A judge sentenced one of two Mexican nationals to 12 years in prison after they were caught with 17 kilograms of cocaine and fentanyl, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, in McHenry County.
Enrique Navar-Favela, 27, of Stone Park, and Cristian R. Chavez-Salgado, 27, of Chicago, were both charged in July with two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, a Class X felony, and two counts of possession of a controlled substance, a Class 1 felony.
Navar-Favela and Chavez-Salgado were arrested around 1:30 p.m. on July 2, 2024, by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office.
Court documents said Chavez-Salgado and Navar-Favela were seen walking into a Super 8 motel in McHenry County while Chavez-Salgado was carrying a black duffel bag.
The bag contained 17 kilograms of what was later tested for the presumptive presence of cocaine and fentanyl.
McHenry County prosecutors have previously valued a kilogram of cocaine at $25,000, meaning the estimated value of the drugs could be approximately $425,000.
Navar-Favela had been driving a vehicle, which he claimed he borrowed, court documents said.
The car had dealer plates and Navar-Favela reportedly could not identify where he obtained the car.
McHenry County Judge Carl Metz said the sheer quantity of cocaine and fentanyl that Chavez-Salgado possessed and that Navar-Favela was connected to shows the danger they pose to the community.
“The Court is aware of how deadly fentanyl can be,” Metz said during an initial court hearing.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office filed petitions to detain both defendants pending trial.
The judge granted the petitions to detain Chavez-Salgado and Navar-Favela following their arrests.
“No other conditions can mitigate the risk he presents of obtaining and delivering large quantities of cocaine and fentanyl again,” Metz said about both defendants.
The judge also said he was concerned that Navar-Favela was a willful flight risk.
Both defendants are Mexican nationals. Navar-Favela does not have United States identification and indicated he planned to go back to Mexico, court documents said.
Court records show Chavez-Salgado entered into a negotiated plea deal with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office this week.
He pleaded guilty to one count of possession of cocaine over 900 grams, a Class 1 felony, in exchange for his other charges being dismissed.
McHenry County Judge Christopher Harmon on Wednesday approved the plea and sentenced Chavez-Salgado to 12 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections pursuant to the agreement.
The judge also assessed $22,390 in court fines and fees for Chavez-Salgado.
Navar-Favela’s case remains active and he is scheduled to appear in court again on Friday where he is expected to enter into a plea agreement.