Springfield, Ill. - A Kewanee, Illinois man has been sentenced to serve 72 months in federal prison for distributing cocaine in Monmouth and Beardstown, Illinois in 2006 and 2007. U.S. District Judge Jeanne E. Scott sentenced Lucio Quintero-Sanchez, aka Lorenzo Sanchez-Morales, 33, of Kewanee, Illinois, yesterday, April 29, 2008. Sanchez, a citizen of Mexico, is in the U.S. illegally and will face deportation upon service of his prison sentence.

Quintero-Sanchez pled guilty in January 2008 to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Sanchez admitted that he sold powder cocaine in Monmouth, Illinois, on three occasions to a confidential informant in July and August 2007: 86.5 grams of powder cocaine for $1,500 on July 26; 146.6 grams of powder cocaine for $3,000 on August 8; and, 210.8 grams of powder cocaine for $4,800 on August 29. Sanchez also admitted he conspired with another person to distribute cocaine in Beardstown, Illinois from approximately August 2006 through November 21, 2006. Sanchez admitted he delivered cocaine to his co-conspirator in Beardstown on a regular basis, at approximately four ounces a week. The total weight of powder cocaine sold by Sanchez in 2006 and 2007 is estimated to be two or more kilograms, but less than 3.5 kilograms. Sanchez was arrested on September 19, 2007, in Monmouth, Illinois, in possession of approximately 120 grams of powder cocaine he intended to sell to an informant. Since his arrest, Sanchez has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

The charges resulted from a task force investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the West Central Illinois Task Force with participation by the Monmouth and Quincy Police Departments; sheriffs’ departments in Fulton, Schuyler, Brown, Adams and Pike counties, and the Illinois State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore prosecuted the case.