Gang member sentenced for first degree murder in Boone County

Boone County State’s Attorney Michelle J. Courier announced that Ricardo Figueroa was sentenced to 76 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

In March, a Boone County jury returned a guilty verdict of First Degree Murder, two counts of Attempt First Degree Murder, Possession of a Firearm by a Streetgang Member, and Mob Action against Ricardo Figueroa.

Figueroa was convicted for his role in the shooting and killing of Giovanni Galicia in the area of 2000 Block of Lakeshore Drive on Nov. 30, 2013. He was also convicted of Attempt Murder for other passengers in the vehicle.

Prosecutors presented evidence that Figueroa, along with another defendant, brandished a gun and went to the passenger side car of the vehicle in which Galicia and others were sitting. While Figueroa did not fire his gun, his actions were proven to have promoted and facilitated the shooting. Prosecutors provided further evidence that Figueroa was a gang member and that the killing was gang related.

“The verdict and sentence of Figueroa demonstrates my office’s commitment to Boone County to aggressively prosecute gang violence,” Boone County State’s Attorney Michelle Courier said. “We ensured justice was served by holding all those responsible for the violence accountable.”

The First Degree Murder conviction requires Figueroa to serve 100 percent of the sentence.