Man busted in large-scale heroin investigation gets 8 years in prison
A 29-year-old Chicago man pleaded guilty Tuesday in DuPage County court to unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and was sentenced to eight years in prison.
Judge Robert Miller agreed to recommend Andres Garcia for the state's boot camp incarceration program.
Garcia was arrested as part of a large-scale heroin investigation that also led to 30 other arrests from February through August of 2013 and involved numerous law enforcement agencies and more than 17 court-authorized wiretaps.
At the time, prosecutors said those involved in the ring were supplying raw, uncut heroin to suburban customers in an operation that was generating $2,500 to $3,000 a day.
Garcia originally was charged with violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, unlawful criminal drug conspiracy, unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, resisting a peace officer and another count of unlawful possession with intent to deliver. All those charges were dropped as part of the plea agreement.
The investigation began after authorities executed a search warrant in Carol Stream, seized more than 20 grams of heroin and obtained information about a widespread drug ring.
The case was the first to be prosecuted in DuPage under the state's Street Gang and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations, or RICO, law.
Garcia posted 10 percent of his $1.5 million bail in August 2014 and will receive credit for 363 days served in DuPage County jail.