Cops: 6 pounds of pot mailed to Elgin man

A 43-year-old man is accused of having someone mail nearly 6.5 pounds of marijuana, with an estimated value of $16,000, from California to his Elgin home.

The North Central Narcotics Task Force, a special unit of the Illinois State Police, was waiting for German Reyes to accept the package Friday morning at his home on the 400 block of Villa Street and they arrested him.

“We observed Mr. Reyes take possession of the box which contained six vacuum sealed bags, totaling approximately 2,900 grams, which field tested positive for the presence of marijuana,” said Illinois State Police Sgt. Bill Backus, director of the task force. “It was a joint investigation between the U.S. Postal Inspector’s Office and the North Central Narcotics Task Force.”

The most severe charge against Reyes, possession of between 2,000 and 5,000 grams of marijuana with intent to deliver, carries a prison term of between four and 15 years. Probation also is an option; court records show that Reyes does not have any previous felony arrests in Kane County.

Backus said no one else was at Reyes’ home at the time of this arrest Friday. Reyes invoked his right to remain silent and didn’t answer questions about who dropped the package into the mail, Backus said.

“We are working with the Postal Inspector Service to try and find out the sender’s information from California,” he said.

Reyes is being held on $750,000 bail, meaning he must post $75,000 to be released while the case is pending. He is next due in court on Dec. 19.