Ecstasy salesman gets 4 years in prison for Vernon Hills bust

The last of three Springfield residents caught with 100 doses of Ecstasy during a traffic stop in Vernon Hills pleaded guilty Wednesday in Lake County circuit court.

Brandon McKinney, 24, was sentenced to four years in prison, but will earn early release by successfully completing the boot camp program.

Assistant State's Attorney Scott Hoffert said McKinney and Jamie Waters, 19, were passengers in a car driven by Juan Salas, 22, on March 5. As the vehicle neared the intersection of Route 60 and Fairway Drive, Hoffert said, Vernon Hills police stopped it for illegal lane use.

Salas initially gave the officer a false name and date of birth, Hoffert said, and a computer check showed that person had a valid driver's license.

However, when Salas could not remember the social security number of the person whose identity he used, a drug-detecting dog was brought to the scene. The dog indicated there were drugs in the car, and a bottle containing the 100 Ecstasy pills was found in Waters' purse.

Waters told police McKinney had thrown her the bottle when the officer turned on his emergency lights and told her to hide it. She also told police that Salas and McKinney regularly drove to Chicago to buy Ecstasy and sold it in the Springfield area.

Waters and Salas were placed on probation for two years after pleading guilty to possession of a controlled substance in May.

Circuit Judge Fred Foreman told McKinney he could be eligible for release from prison in six months if he completes the boot camp program, but will have to do the full four-year sentence if he fails.

Hoffert said the Ecstasy had a street value of $1,000 to $2,000.