Plea deal struck in Wheaton drug buys

A 21-year-old Wheaton woman pleaded guilty Thursday to her role in a series of drug buys orchestrated by undercover agents.

Larissa Pyykkonen, 21, of 518 Kipling Ct. pleaded guilty to to one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 86 days in jail, of which she's already served the required 43 days. She also received two years of probation and $1,200 in fines and fees.

Pyykkonen faced one to three years in prison on the original charges of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance.

According to prosecutors, Pyykkonen drove her co-defendant, Roger A Johnson, 24, of 30W161 Maplewood Dr. in Warrenville, to at least two undercover drug buys on Feb. 4 and Feb. 20. in which they sold less than 15 grams of cocaine to undercover agents from Wheaton and Warrenville. Johnson, prosecutors said, needed a driver because he did not have a valid license.

Assistant State's Attorney Kevin Laude told Judge John Kinsella that Pyykkonen admitted to assisting with the cocaine sales because "she needed money to pay bills."

Kinsella warned a crying Pyykkonen that he does not look favorably on people spreading drugs throughout the community.

"Drugs are a dirty, rotten business where people get hurt, killed and their lives ruined," Kinsella said. "If you come back to my courtroom there are not enough tears in the world to keep you out of the penitentiary."

In a separate case, prosecutors are attempting to seize Pyykkonen's 2001 Honda Accord EX, worth about $5,800 because it was used during in commission of a felony drug. That case is next scheduled for June 23 in DuPage County.

Johnson has pleaded not guilty and remains jailed, charged with unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, He is next due in court on May 20.