Cook County Man Handed 14-Year Sentence for Drug Conspiracy

By T.C. Mayfield, The Chicago Times

April 20, 2023

WHEATON, IL – A Cook County man has been sentenced to fourteen years for his involvement in a drug conspiracy to deliver fentanyl from out of state. 

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced today that Jerry De Jesus Rodriguez Hernandez, 25, formerly of Stickney was sentenced to fourteen years for his role in the transportation and delivery of more than 10 kilograms of fentanyl.  On February 1, 2023, De Jesus Rodriguez Hernandez entered a plea of guilty to one felony count of calculated criminal drug conspiracy. 

According to the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Illinois State Police, De Jesus Rodriguez Hernandez allegedly arranged to take delivery of a large amount of fentanyl from California back in December of 2020.  On December 24, 2020, De Jesus Rodriguez Hernandez was observed by police taking delivery of approximately 10,581.5 grams of fentanyl and was later taken into custody. 

“The sheer amount of fentanyl that Mr. De Jesus Rodriguez Hernandez intended to flood our streets with is staggering,” Berlin said in a statement. “If not for the truly outstanding work of the Illinois State Police and DuMeg, more than ten kilograms of perhaps the most dangerous street drug available today would have found its way to communities throughout Illinois. That is more than enough to kill the entire population of DuPage County five times.”