South Suburban man denies Lake Co. pot charge

A Chicago Heights man charged with arranging to have 13 pounds of marijuana mailed to him in Mundelein, pleaded not guilty Thursday in Lake County Circuit Court.

Victor Sandoval, 28, faces a mandatory prison sentence of six to 30 years if convicted of possession of marijuana with the intent to deliver.

Assistant State's Attorney Scott Hoffert said U.S. Postal Inspectors notified the Lake County Metropolitan Enforcement Group that a package containing the marijuana had been intercepted in the mail.

The package had been sent from Texas to an address on the first block of Wilton Lane, and was scheduled to be delivered Feb. 9, Hoffert said.

Police placed an alarm in the package, then gave it to a MEG agent dressed as a letter carrier, who took it to the house and had Sandoval sign for it, Hoffert said. A few minutes later, Sandoval left the house and was arrested.

Hoffert said Sandoval told police the delivery was the third such package he had received, and the house was owned by a relative of his girlfriend.

Police say Sandoval told them he was paid to take the packages and leave them in a garbage container outside a restaurant in Chicago Heights.

Sandoval claimed he was paid $600 for the first shipment, received some marijuana for the second and was due to be paid $400 for the package police caught him with, Hoffert said.

Police estimate the marijuana would be worth about $26,000 on the street.

Circuit Judge Fred Foreman scheduled a trial of the case for June 8 and ordered Sandoval, who is free on $2,500 bond, to appear in court May 12.