Elgin man gets 18 years on drugs, weapons charges

An Elgin man was sentenced to 18 years in prison Monday for a series of drug and weapon crimes, Kane County officials said.

Ramon R. Pickens, 44, of the 1200 block of Fairwood Court, was convicted in December of armed violence, a class X felony, related to delivering drugs to undercover officers in exchange for a .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun, the Kane County state's attorney's office said in a news release.

"These were violent crimes. Mr. Pickens' intent was to rob his drug supplier. The community is safer with Mr. Pickens in prison. Our thanks to Elgin's drug and tactical response officers for their wok in this case," Kane County State's Attorney Joe McMahon said in a statement.

On Nov. 26, police say Pickens gave less than a gram of cocaine to an undercover officer in exchange for the gun and was immediately arrested. He had previously delivered cocaine to the same officer several times earlier in November.

On Dec. 2 he pleaded guilty. Pickens is eligible for day-to-day sentencing. He receives credit for at least 845 days served in the Kane County jail.