Elburn woman, Darien man plead guilty in marijuana case
A former Elburn woman and a Darien man pleaded guilty Friday to reduced charges in a marijuana-trafficking case investigated by state police and the Drug Enforcement Agency.
Charges of felony marijuana trafficking were dropped against Crystal Westerlin, 31, who now lives in Earlville. Instead, she pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis.
Westerlin agreed to a sentence of three years in prison. She will receive credit for time served in the Kane County jail and on GPS monitoring, and is eligible for day-for-day credit.
According to Assistant State's Attorney Scott Schwertley, Westerlin was a passenger in a vehicle driven by her husband, Matthew Westerlin, when police found more than 2,000 but less than 5,000 grams of marijuana in it.
Police had been investigating the Westerlins and three other people for several months, suspecting them of transporting pot from the southwest United States.
Authorities seized 598 pounds of marijuana, worth about $2.7 million, when they arrested the Westerlins and three other people in November 2012 in Aurora and Sugar Grove. The pot was found in two vehicles.
Dean Dziuba, 56, of the 1100 block of Lodgepole Court, Darien, also pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis (2,000 to 5,000 grams) and was sentenced to four years in prison. He will receive credit for 36 days spent in the Kane County jail.
Both pleas were entered before Kane County Circuit Judge Susan Clancy Boles.
Westerlin's husband, Matthew, 30, is next due in court Aug. 28.
Richard Ecklund, 49, and Mary L. Nunez, 59, both of the 2700 block of Sperry Court in Batavia, also were charged with felony trafficking. They are due in court Aug. 22.