Glendale Heights man accused in drug charges gets 4 years

A man police say led a drug ring that delivered heroin, Ecstasy and other drugs from Chicago to the far Northwest suburbs was sentence sentenced to four years in prison Monday after pleading guilty to a pair of felony charges.

William T. Clinge, 27, of Glendale Heights, admitted guilt to two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, stemming from allegations he twice sold heroin last year to an undercover McHenry County Sheriff's detective.

As part of the plea bargain, 14 other felony charges against Clinge were dismissed.

Sheriff's police arrested Clinge and four young suburban residents in December after a four-month investigation into a drug operation.

Authorities said the group purchased heroin, OxyContin, Ecstasy and methadone in Chicago and re-sold the drugs in Fox River Grove, Island Lake, McHenry and other towns to fund their own drug habits.

Clinge's attorney William Gracik denied claims Monday his client was the leader of the drug operation, describing his involvement as a favor to a relative.

"This gives him an opportunity to put this behind him and get on with putting his life back together," Gracik said of the plea deal.

He is the second of the five accused to plead guilty. In March, Troy D. Petras, 20, of Barrington, admitted guilty to a pair of heroin-dealing charges and received an eight-year prison term.

Charges remain against Tiffany R. Patrick, 19, of Ingleside; Kelly R. Gawron, 18, formerly of Lake Zurich and now of Largo, Fla.; and William C. Berard, 20, of Lake Zurich.