A former Marengo man has been sentenced to three years in prison after cops found him with $17,000 in cash and a variety of drugs, including fentanyl, during a bust earlier this year.
Brandon C. West, 36, of Carpentersville, was charged in April with possession of 500-2,000 grams of cannabis with intent to deliver, possession of 500-2,000 grams of cannabis and three counts of possession of a controlled substance.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Task Force conducted a search warrant at West’s residence in Marengo on April 25.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court said West was found in possession of cannabis, cocaine, a substance containing fentanyl, and a substance containing amphetamine and dextroamphetamine.
West was present at the home and officers found $17,000 in cash along with the drugs, prosecutors said.
There were numerous jars containing cannabis flower, a box containing individual containers of cannabis wax, 45 THC vape cartridges and a scale.
The total weight of the cannabis products was approximately 1,005 grams, prosecutors said.
At the time, West was out on bond for a felony drug case where he was charged with possession of 500-2,000 grams of cannabis with intent to deliver and possession of 500-2,000 grams of cannabis in April 2022.
He had posted 10% of a $60,000 bond in that case and was released from custody in September 2022.
McHenry County Judge Mark Gerhardt set bond at $100,000 in West’s second case and West has been held in the McHenry County Jail since.
Court records show West entered into a negotiated plea deal with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office on August 24.
He pleaded guilty to one count of manufacturing or delivery of cannabis between 500 and 2,000 grams, a Class 2 felony, which was the most serious charge against him.
The lesser charges were dismissed along with the charges in the first case as part of the plea.
McHenry County Judge Tiffany Davis approved the plea deal and sentenced West to three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
The sentence will be served at 50% and West will receive 122 days of credit for time already served.