'Security guard' for DuPage drug deal gets 15 years

A Chicago man paid a high price Tuesday for his role in an undercover DuPage County drug sting involving the sale of 498 grams of cocaine for $11,500.

Jose R. Quinonez, 35, was sentenced to 15 years in prison in a plea deal in which he admitted to committing felony armed violence.

As part of the plea, reached just before his trial was slated to begin, prosecutors agreed to drop the other allegation of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance. Quinonez faced up to 50 years in prison if convicted of both felonies.

Police arrested Quinonez and a co-defendant late Nov. 26, 2007, after they arrived at an agreed-upon location in a Willowbrook parking lot.

The probe, led by the DuPage Metropolitan Enforcement Group, or DuMEG, began with a tip from a confidential informant who said he knew a source for cocaine. The source put the undercover agent in touch with Quinonez.

Prosecutor Diane Michalak said Quinonez was the one who set the $11,500 price tag and a meeting place where the drug deal would take place.

"Quinonez was found with a loaded .357-(caliber) revolver on his person with extra ammunition in his pocket," Michalak said. "In his statement to police, he said he was there in case the buyer tried to rob them. He said his role was to provide security."

The defense attorney, George Ford, a senior DuPage County public defender, said Quinonez lacked a criminal past, cooperated with police by providing a confession, and played a smaller role than his co-defendant.

In fact, Ford said, Quinonez only stood to gain $150 from the deal.

"He took a big hit for $150," Ford said.

The co-defendant, Jesus Hernandez, 45, of Chicago, likely fled to Mexico earlier this year after being released from DuPage County jail on bond. His original bond was lowered from $1 million to $200,000 after the home remodeler argued he had four kids and a wife to support, no prior criminal history, and strong local family ties to keep him here.

An arrest warrant was issued April 16 after Hernandez didn't show up for court.

Both men are legal U.S. residents, according to court records.

DuPage Circuit Judge Peter Dockery presided over Tuesday's plea deal. Quinonez, who is a father of two, will be eligible for parole after serving half the prison term. He also receives credit for the 1.5 years he has spent in the DuPage County jail since his arrest after being unable to post a $1 million bond.