Aurora man gets 11.5 years prison for $45,000 meth possession

A 32-year-old Aurora man was sentenced to 11.5 years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of an estimated $45,000 worth of crystal meth, according to authorities and court records.

Jaime N. Vasquez, of the 500 block of East Broadway, pleaded guilty to felony possession of methamphetamine Thursday and was sentenced by Kane County Judge Clint Hull.

Vasquez was a passenger in vehicle stopped on a Nov. 12, 2012, along I-88, prosecutors said. After a search turned up 580 grams of meth, or about 1.25 pounds, Vasquez admitted he was taking the meth from Minnesota to Aurora, prosecutors said.

"Crystal meth is a harmful and dangerous drug, and I applaud the efforts to keep it from taking hold in our community," said State's Attorney Joe McMahon. "Thanks to the Kane County Sheriff's Office for its continued drug interdiction efforts."

Vasquez could have received a maximum prison term of 30 years.

Although the sentence is 11.5 years, Vasquez could be out of prison in a little over three years. Under state law, Vasquez can halve his sentence with good behavior and he also gets credit for nearly 30 months of being held at the Kane County jail while the case was pending.