Rock Island, Ill. – A former Chicago man, Aaron Michael Linzy Sr., 33, who had been residing in Charles City, Iowa, prior to his arrest, was sentenced today to serve the rest of his life in prison. On October 15, 2008, a jury deliberated two hours before convicting Linzy of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, ecstacy and marijuana from March 2007 through November 7, 2007, and possession of crack, ecstacy and marijuana on November 7, 2007, with intent to distribute.

Linzy’s criminal history includes three prior felony drug convictions in Cook county, making him eligible for the mandatory term of life imprisonment. Following today’s sentencing before U.S. District Judge Michael M. Mihm, Linzy was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Linzy and a co-defendant, Jarvell Lamont Jones, were indicted by a grand jury in January 2008 after law enforcement officers stopped a vehicle driven by Linzy on Interstate 80 on November 7, 2007, for a traffic violation. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, law enforcement officers recovered crack cocaine, ecstacy tablets and marijuana.

Jones, 23, also of Charles City, Iowa, a passenger in the car, pled guilty on June 11, 2008, to participating in the drug distribution conspiracy. Jones was sentenced on November 12, 2008, to 20 years in federal prison.

Linzy and Jones have been in federal law enforcement custody since their arrest on federal charges in February 2008.

The charges were the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Illinois State Police, and the Charles City, Iowa Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John K. Mehochko.