24 years in DuPage drug trafficking case

A Maywood man was sentenced Wednesday to 24 years in prison for being in possession of nearly 600 Ecstasy pills during a traffic stop.

Troy L. Campbell, 31, was convicted last fall of controlled substance trafficking and the unlawful possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver.

Police stopped a car in which Campbell was a passenger at 9:15 p.m. April 18, 2008, on I-290 near York Road. Acting on a tip about narcotic sales, officers followed the car and made a stop after they said the driver made several traffic violations.

The driver, Cherese T. Smith, 36, of Naperville, faced similar charges. Prosecutors, though, were forced to drop the allegations after a judge's Jan. 8 ruling quashing her arrest and the all evidence in the case due to an improper police search of her car.

Campbell was not as lucky. He faced 18 to 80 years in prison.

His criminal history included several drug delivery and possession convictions. Campbell also was arrested in another drug case while free on bond when the Ecstasy arrest occurred.

"There's no indication this defendant has ever had any job other than being a drug dealer," Prosecutor Diane Michalak said. "This defendant has shown through his actions that this criminal conduct is likely to occur again."

Campbell declined a chance to speak before DuPage Circuit Judge Peter Dockery sentenced him. Defense attorney William Rath argued the minimum punishment is "more than enough," but Dockery said the 24 year sentence was necessary to protect the public.

Campbell must serve 75 percent of the term before being eligible for parole. His other drug case still is pending.