A Waukegan man was sentenced to six years in prison for selling a McHenry woman fentanyl-laced heroin, causing her to suffer a fatal overdose.
Jermal A. Johnson, 49, of Waukegan, was originally charged with three counts of drug-induced homicide in October 2018 in connection with the death of Jennifer M. Richards.
Richards, 39, of McHenry, was found unresponsive and pronounced dead in the 1900 block of North Orleans Street in McHenry on June 15, 2018.
Toxicology testing showed that Richards died as a result of a heroin and fentanyl overdose. McHenry police learned that she had gone to Waukegan the previous night and purchased heroin.
Prosecutors said that a search of Richards’ cellphone revealed communication with someone named “Mo.” Police investigators then learned that “Mo” was the nickname for Johnson.
A friend of Richards identified Johnson in a photo lineup and told police that he sold the fatal dose of heroin to Richards, prosecutors said.
Johnson will serve around 4 ½ years in the Illinois Department of Corrections under truth-in-sentencing guidelines.
The case was investigated by the McHenry Police Department and prosecuted by McHenry County Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Combs.