California Man Sentenced For Heroin Offense

On June 16, 2016, Conrad Valdez, Jr., 46, of Selma, California, was sentenced for a heroin offense, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, James L. Porter, announced today.

Valdez, who had previously pled guilty to a one count indictment charging possession with intent to distribute more than 1 kilogram of heroin, was sentenced to 144 months in federal prison, to be followed by 5 years’ supervised release, and fined $400.00. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that, during a September 27, 2015, traffic stop in Effingham County, officers located approximately 17 kilograms of heroin in Valdez’s truck. Valdez was transporting the heroin from California to Joliet. The investigation established that Valdez had made previous trips for the purpose of transporting drugs and U.S. currency from the distribution of drugs. At sentencing, the judge determined that Valdez was responsible for transporting 17 kilograms of heroin, 33 kilograms of cocaine, and 20 kilograms of methamphetamine.

The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Central Illinois Enforcement Group, and Illinois State Police. The Effingham County State’s Attorney’s Office assisted in the investigation.