A Mexican national has pleaded not guilty to charges after prosecutors say he was found with two kilograms of fentanyl, one of the largest fentanyl busts in McHenry County history.
Joaquin R. Montano-Martinez, 28, of Mexico, and Patricio Rosales-Diaz, 43, of Palatine, are both charged with manufacturing or delivering fentanyl over 900 grams, a Class X felony, and possession of more than 200 grams of a controlled substance, a Class 1 felony.
McHenry County Assistant State’s Attorney Brian Miller said law enforcement stopped a truck being driven by Rosales-Diaz on February 24.
The truck was traveling westbound on Route 14 through Cary.
Montano-Martinez, who is a permanent Mexican resident, was a passenger in the truck.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office located approximately two kilograms, or 4.4 pounds, of fentanyl in the truck.
The wholesale price for a kilogram of fentanyl is approximately $25,000, Miller said.
Fentanyl, when broken down, sells for approximately $100 per gram in McHenry County, Miller said.
Bulk fentanyl is typically mixed with other substances to increase profits.
“Assuming the fentanyl was broken down and sold in its current form, its approximately street value would be $200,000,” Miller said in court documents.
Miller said the seized fentanyl could produce 20,000 doses if broken down and sold in its current form.
Two milligrams of fentanyl is considered a lethal dose, which is about 10 to 15 grains of table salt, according to the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office. “One kilogram alone has the potential to kill 500,000 people.”
The state’s attorney’s office said the bust is one of the largest fentanyl recoveries in the county’s history.
McHenry County Judge Jennifer Johnson set bond for Rosales-Diaz and Montano-Martinez at $1 million.
McHenry County Judge Tiffany Davis reduced Montano-Martinez’s bond to $500,000 during a subsequent hearing.
Rosales-Diaz would need to post $100,000 cash in order to be released from the McHenry County Jail and Montano-Martinez would need to post $50,000 to be released.
Prosecutors also filed motions asking the court to verify the legitimacy of any funds posted toward the two men’s bond.
A grand jury indicted both men on their charges on Thursday.
Montano-Martinez was arraigned on the charges on Friday and pleaded not guilty.
Rosales-Diaz has not been arraigned yet on the charges and is scheduled to appear in court on April 12.