A man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison and will face deportation after he was caught with more than two kilograms of heroin during a stop in Algonquin.
Jesus R. Campos-Nevarez, 51, of Elgin, was charged in February 2024 with manufacturing or delivering over 900 grams of heroin and possession of over 900 grams of heroin.
McHenry County Assistant State’s Attorney Shelby Page said the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office received information on February 9, 2024, about a maroon Ford Edge with an Illinois license plate being involved in large-scale narcotics possession or distribution.
Members of the sheriff’s office spotted the vehicle and it failed to use its right turn signal within the required distance while making a right turn onto Pyott Road from Algonquin Road in Algonquin.
Other deputies conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle for the traffic violation.
Campos-Nevarez was identified as the driver of the Ford, Page said, adding that he appeared nervous with his hands shaking and looked around with a frightened expression on his face.
Deputies asked Campos-Nevarez to roll his windows down but he instead opened his trunk unprompted.
A deputy began writing Campos-Nevarez a warning for the traffic violation and McHenry County Sheriff’s Deputy Kelly and Canine Jett began performing a free air sniff of the vehicle, Page said.
Canine Jett alerted on the vehicle for the presence of illegal narcotics within five minutes of the initial traffic stop.
A probable cause search was conducted of the vehicle and a black lunch box was located on the center of the rear floorboard, Page said.
The box contained two bundles which were heavily wrapped in plastic and field tested positive for heroin.
Court documents said the total amount was over two kilograms of a substance containing heroin.
Campos-Nevarez is not a U.S. Citizen and had only been in the United States for seven months before his arrest.
Court records show Campos-Nevarez, who has been held in the McHenry County Jail pending trial, entered into a negotiated plea deal with the state’s attorney’s office this week.
He pleaded guilty to one count of possession of over 900 grams of heroin, a Class 1 felony, in exchange for his more serious charge being dismissed.
McHenry County Judge Tiffany Davis approved the plea and sentenced Campos-Nevarez to 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections on Friday pursuant to the agreement.
He faces deportation upon the competition of his sentence. Campos-Nevarez will receive 546 days of credit for time served and the prison sentence will be served at 50% in accordance with truth-in-sentencing guidelines.