A Lake Villa man has been sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to helping a second Lake County man sell fake pills, which were “pure fentanyl” and caused a Cary man’s death.
Keenan R. Queen, 22, of the 22300 block of West Morton Drive in Lake Villa, was charged in September 2021 with one count of drug-induced homicide.
A second suspect, Jordan C. Schwamb, 23, of the 200 block of Cedarwood Lane in Antioch, was also charged with one count of drug-induced homicide, a Class X felony.
A motion filed by McHenry County Assistant State’s Attorney Brette Dunbar said that Vincent Isola, 28, of Cary, was found deceased in his residence in Cary on March 4, 2021.
Officers found approximately five blue pills believed to be generic Percocet near Isola’s body, the motion said.
Officers searched Isola’s phone and social media which led to evidence showing Isola arranged to purchase illegal narcotics, including Percocet, from Schwamb, according to the motion.
Queen assisted in the transaction by arranging for Isola to purchase the drugs from Schwamb, the motion said.
The pills recovered in Isola’s residence were tested by the Illinois State Police Crime Lab and came back positive for fentanyl.
Prosecutors said the fake pills were “pure fentanyl.”
Isola’s cause of death was determined to be from the effects of fentanyl from the pills.
“Vince was a proud and loving father who is survived by his 4-year-old son, Cameron and the love of his life, Ariel,” Isola’s obituary read. A GoFundMe raised over $11,000 for the man’s son.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and a judge issued arrest warrants for Schwamb and Queen.
Schwamb entered into a negotiated plea deal where he pleaded guilty to his drug-induced homicide charge.
He was sentenced to nine years in the Illinois Department of Corrections on Thursday.
Queen entered into a blind plea deal and pleaded guilty to an amended count of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, a Class 2 felony, in exchange for his drug-induced homicide charge being dismissed.
Queen appeared in court for a sentencing hearing on Friday.
McHenry County Judge James Cowlin sentenced him to 36 months of probation and 100 hours of public service and ordered him to pay $2,790 in court fines and fees.
Cowlin said in sentencing documents that Queen’s conduct was the result of “circumstances unlikely to recur” and that he is “likely to comply with the terms of a period of probation.”
Queen was sentenced to 180 days in jail but given credit for time already served awaiting his case, meaning he has already completed the jail time.