Raul Alvarez, 37, of Chicago.

A Chicago man has been sentenced to 11 years in prison after pre-arranging to sell a half-pound of cocaine, worth over $20,000, at a hotel in Crystal Lake.

Raul Alvarez, 37, of Chicago, was charged in December with manufacturing or delivery of cocaine over 100 grams, a Class X felony, and possession of cocaine over 100 grams, a Class 1 felony.

A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court said Alvarez possessed 100-400 grams of a substance containing cocaine and had the intent to deliver it around 1:15 p.m. on December 2 in McHenry County.

Court documents said Alvarez showed up to a pre-arranged cocaine purchase when he was caught.

Prosecutors said the deal was arranged to take place at a hotel in Crystal Lake.

Law enforcement was surveilling the transaction and watched Alvarez as he entered the parking lot of the hotel.

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Alvarez exited his vehicle and proceeded to walk into the hotel, at which time he was arrested by members of the task force.

He was found in possession of 231.7 grams of cocaine.

The estimated street value of that amount of cocaine is approximately $23,000, according to the DEA Chicago Field Division.

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office arrested Alvarez and transported him to the McHenry County Jail.

The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Alvarez pending trial, calling him a real and present threat to the community.

McHenry County Judge Carl Metz granted the petition and said the amount of drugs found was “far beyond an amount used for personal consumption.”

“The large amount of cocaine Defendant possessed makes him a clear and present threat to the safety of anyone in the community who may consume the cocaine he sells,” Metz said.

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Court records show Alvarez entered into a negotiated plea deal with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office by pleading guilty to an amended count of manufacturing or delivery of cocaine between 15-100 grams, a Class X felony, in exchange for his other charges being dismissed.

Alvarez was sentenced on Friday to 11 years in prison by McHenry County Judge Mark Gerhardt pursuant to the plea agreement.

The sentence will be served at 50% in accordance with truth-in-sentencing guidelines. He will receive 241 days of credit for time already served.