A Waukegan man was sentenced to six years in prison in connection with a fentanyl-laced heroin overdose death of a McHenry man in May.
Enrico J. Cirelli, 35, of the 400 block of Liberty Street in Waukegan, and Robin A. Stewart, 40, of the 40800 block of Black Oak Avenue in Antioch, were both charged with five counts of drug-induced homicide and three counts of manufacturing with intent to deliver a controlled substance.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office reached a plea deal with Cirelli, who pleaded guilty to one count of drug-induced homicide. In exchange, prosecutors dismissed all of his other charges.
McHenry County Judge Michael Coppedge approved the deal and sentenced Cirelli to six years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. He will be required to serve 75% of the sentence and be required to pay $874 in court fees and fines.
The McHenry Police Department began investigating the death of Shea N. Conrad on May 8.
Prosecutors said that detectives obtained a search warrant for Conrad’s phone and found a text message conversation with a contact listed as “Rico.”
The text messages appeared to be consistent with a request to purchase illegal drugs, according to a motion filed in court by the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Detectives sent a text message to “Rico” on May 13 ordering more drugs. He agreed to sell $200 worth of drugs and Stewart arrived at the detectives’ location shortly after, the motion said.
Detectives found Stewart in possession of multiple bags of crack cocaine and a large bag of powder cocaine, along with a cutting agent and over $1,000 cash.
Stewart admitted during an interview that she regularly delivered cocaine for Cirelli.
She also admitted to delivering the drugs from Cirelli that killed Conrad approximately one or two days before his death, according to the motion.
An arrest warrant for Cirelli and Stewart was issued on July 15. Cirelli was booked into the McHenry County jail on July 23 and Stewart was booked on July 29.
Stewart remains out of jail on bail while her case remains open. She is scheduled to appear in court on March 16 for a status on a trial date.