Illlinois police find $1.5 million worth of cocaine

Saturday, December 3, 2005

UNION COUNTY, Ill. -- Illinois State Police put a $1.5 million dent into cocaine traffic passing through Union County, on Wednesday. During a safety check of a tractor-trailer on Interstate 57, a state trooper discovered 15 bricks of cocaine, with a gross weight of 37 pounds, in the cab of the truck. Troopers arrested driver Paul Green, 44, and Michael Stennis, 39, both of Houston, Texas. Union County State's Attorney Allen W. James charged both suspects with one felony count each of controlled substance trafficking, unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a controlled substance. They are being held on a $500,000 bond, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 20. If convicted, Green and Stennis face a minimum of 30 years in prison for trafficking, 15 to 60 years for delivery and a maximum $500,000 fine for possession.

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