South Elgin man charged in pot delivery

A South Elgin man stopped to pick up a package Monday in the 100 block of Franklin Avenue in Elgin. It wasn’t his house, but it was a package he had been expecting, police said.

Police were waiting. They arrested Sorasinh Keovongsak, 39, of the 1400 block of Birch Lane, on the scene — the bundle was shipped from California to Elgin and was filled with 2.5 pounds of marijuana, Elgin Police spokeswoman Sue Olafson said. Police put the house under surveillance after its contents were discovered at O’Hare International Airport when it arrived in the state.

Keovongsak has been charged with possession of marijuana and possession with the intent to deliver, both felonies, according to court documents. He appeared in Kane County bond court Tuesday.

“Police found another package, also apparently delivered to a home in the area, in his car,” Olafson said. “That package also carried another 2.5 pounds of marijuana.”

The total street value of the 5 pounds of marijuana is $25,000, Olafson said.

When the package arrived at O’Hare, the postal inspector’s dogs sniffed out the drugs, according to Olafson. Execution of a federal search warrant confirmed the presence of marijuana. Authorities contacted Elgin police, who then set up surveillance of the property to which the package was delivered.

The sender listed a false California address, Olafson said, and has not been apprehended.

Bail for Keovongsak was set at $30,000 Tuesday, of which he must pay 10 percent to be released before his next court date, scheduled for Dec. 21 in St. Charles. If convicted of the most serious charge, the man could spend up to seven years in prison.