Man gets probation for accepting pot shipment

A Buffalo Grove man was placed on probation for four years Friday for receiving a package containing 5½ pounds of marijuana.

Brian Song, 22, was also fined $10,000 and was ordered to perform 300 hours of community service.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Steven Derue said California police told the Lake County Metropolitan Enforcement Group that a suspicious package was on its way to Lake County via a delivery service on March 16, 2010.

The California authorities provided MEG with the package tracking number, Derue said, and they identified Song's address in the 1200 block of Deerfield Parkway as the package's destination.

The package was delivered around 9:30 a.m. on March 17, and MEG agents went to Song's door a few minutes after the delivery was made.

Derue said Song consented to a search of his residence and the agents found the package contained five individually wrapped bags containing the marijuana.

Another ounce of marijuana and some drug paraphernalia was also found during the search of Song's residence, Derue said.

Song pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana with the intent to deliver during a hearing before Circuit Judge John Phillips.

Derue said Song could have faced up to 15 years in prison if he had been convicted after a trial.