The second of two Chicago men has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after police found them in possession of over 16 pounds of fentanyl and meth, worth almost $750,000, in McHenry County.
German A. Armenta-Ruiz, 59, of Chicago, and Jesus Benitez-Estrada, 43, of Chicago, were both charged in September with possession of meth over 900 grams, meth delivery over 900 grams, manufacturing or delivery of over 900 grams of fentanyl and possession of a controlled substance over 200 grams.
Prosecutors said that the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office received a tip on September 19 of a large narcotics transaction planned to occur at the Super 8 Motel in Crystal Lake.
Members of the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Task Force conducted surveillance at the motel and observed Armenta-Ruiz and Benitez-Estrada arrive at the motel.
Officers approached the car they were traveling in and after a police canine alerted to the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle, prosecutors said.
The men were asked to exit the vehicle and a search was conducted.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court said nearly 16.5 pounds of a substance containing methamphetamine and fentanyl was recovered from the car.
The street value of the drugs is approximately $746,000.
The two men were arrested and transported to the McHenry County Jail.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office filed petitions to detain Armenta-Ruiz and Benitez-Estrada pending trial. Prosecutors argued the two pose a threat to the safety of the community.
McHenry County Judge Carl Metz granted the petitions to detain Armenta-Ruiz and Benitez-Estrada.
“The sheer quantity and lethal nature of fentanyl clearly demonstrates to the court that the defendant poses a threat to the safety of the community,” Metz said regarding both men.
Court records show Benitez-Estrada entered into a negotiated plea deal with the state’s attorney’s office last week.
He pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine over 900 grams, a Class X felony, in exchange for a 10-year sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
In April, Armenta-Ruiz pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine over 900 grams, a Class X felony, in exchange for a 12-year sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Both negotiated plea deals were accepted by McHenry County Judge Mark Gerhardt.