FAYETTE COUNTY — A 38-year-old California man has been sentenced in Fayette County Court to 4-years in the Illinois Department of Corrections after he pleaded guilty to possessing more two kilos of heroin.
(Source: FCSO)
Juan M. Ibarra-Contreras was initially charged with Class X felony trafficking a controlled substance and Class 1 felony possession of more than 900 grams of heroin.
(Source: ISP Dist. 12)
According to Fayette County State’s Attorney Josh Morrison, in October an Illinois State Police trooper stopped Ibarra-Contreras for speeding on Interstate 70 just east of Vandalia.
A subsequent search of his vehicle reportedly resulted in the discovery of 6-pounds of heroin and he was taken into custody. The street value of the seized heroin at that time was estimated to be nearly $1 million.
With the assistance of an interpreter in court Friday, an agreement was reached in which Ibarra-Contreras pleaded guilty to the Class 1 felony charge in exchange for the Class X felony charge being dismissed.