A third suspect is in custody in connection with a drug-induced homicide where a 27-year-old Crystal Lake man died after purchasing fentanyl pills, court records show.
Ryan James, 26, of Crystal Lake, was charged in March with drug-induced homicide and calculated criminal drug conspiracy, both Class X felonies.
Jacob Stealy, 25, of Crystal Lake, was charged in May with drug-induced homicide and calculated criminal drug conspiracy.
Criminal complaints said that James and Stealy delivered fentanyl unlawfully to Colton G. Steiner, 27, of Crystal Lake, on June 23, 2021.
Steiner ingested the fentanyl and was later found dead. His death was ruled an overdose from fentanyl, court documents show.
The complaints state that James, as part of a conspiracy with Lucious Hemphill, 21, of Maywood, and Stealy, delivered between one gram and 15 grams of a substance containing fentanyl between June 2021 and October 2021 in McHenry County.
James, Hemphill and Stealy allegedly made more than $500 from the conspiracy, the complaint said.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Task Force interviewed James, who admitted he had been actively selling pressed fentanyl pills, according to a motion filed in court.
James told task force members that he had been purchasing approximately 100 fentanyl pills every one or two weeks from Hemphill, the motion said.
Task force members contacted Hemphill and arranged to have him bring 100 fentanyl pills to a designated location in December 2021.
Hemphill arrived at the location and officers found him in possession of 123 pills, which field-tested positive for fentanyl, court documents show.
Officers arrested Hemphill and he was charged with multiple counts of possession of fentanyl with intent to deliver. He was later released after posting bond.
Hemphill was then charged in May with calculated criminal drug conspiracy.
James also told officers that Stealy would sometimes drive him to meet Hemphill, and Stealy would pick up drugs on James’ behalf, the motion said.
A McHenry County judge signed an arrest warrant for James in February and he was taken into custody and released on bond in March.
A judge also issued arrest warrants for Hemphill and Stealy for their new charges. Stealy was arrested and released on bond.
Hemphill was arrested last week by the Rock Island Sheriff’s Office and transported to the McHenry County Jail.
He remains held on a $325,000 bond, jail records show.