Illinois Court: Man Convicted of $200,000 Cocaine Possession While Absent
A judge in Kane County found Juan C. Cruz Aceves guilty of two felonies after he missed a bench trial for drugs found in his car on I-90.
By Pablo Kuznetsov ·
Juan C. Cruz Aceves has been convicted of possessing approximately $200,000 worth of cocaine, a verdict reached while the defendant was absent from the courtroom.
Kane County Judge D.J. Tegeler entered the guilty verdict on October 23, concluding a three-day bench trial that Cruz Aceves did not attend. The 32-year-old Union resident had previously waived his right to a jury trial. His attorney represented him in his absence during the proceedings.
The judge found Cruz Aceves guilty of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, a Class X felony, and unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 1 felony. Following the verdict, Tegeler revoked Cruz Aceves' pretrial release and issued a warrant for his arrest.
The case stems from a traffic stop on May 24, 2021, on westbound Interstate 90. An Illinois State Police trooper pulled over Cruz Aceves, who lived in Kenosha, Wisconsin, at the time, for speeding near mile marker 44.25, between the Route 20 and Route 47 interchanges. Officers determined the driver lacked a valid license and valid insurance coverage, resulting in the vehicle being towed.
During a tow inventory, officers discovered a backpack inside the vehicle containing about 2.4 kilograms of cocaine. The drugs were packaged in two brick-style bundles wrapped in black tape and plastic. Prosecutors estimated the street value of the seized cocaine at approximately $200,000.
Kane County Assistant State’s Attorneys Hillary Sadler and Jake Matekaitis presented the case. Sadler stated that the defendant chose to absent himself from the trial but will not evade the consequences of his illegal activity. She also acknowledged the efforts of the Illinois State Police, Kane County Sheriff’s Office, and Aurora Police Department in bringing the case to a successful outcome.
Cruz Aceves now faces a potential sentence of 15 to 60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. The court may proceed with sentencing even if he misses that hearing. He is scheduled to return to the Kane County Judicial Center in St. Charles on December 18 for motions and sentencing.
Source: Lake and McHenry County Scanner
