A Plano man has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for delivering cocaine to an undercover detective, Kendall County State’s Attorney Eric Weis announced this week.
Following his sentence, James Simpson, 36, 400 block of Gregory Street, will serve an additional 18-month stint in prison on an unrelated felony marijuana offense, Weis said.
According to Weis, the 16-year sentence for cocaine delivery was handed down by Kendall County Judge Timothy McCann during a recent contested sentencing hearing.
The sentence was a result of two guilty verdicts Simpson received during an October 2015 jury trial.
Weis said that during trial, prosecutors set out to prove that in March 2014, Simpson delivered cocaine to an agent with the Kendall County Cooperative Police Assistance Team on multiple occasions.
Jurors found Simpson guilty of two separate cocaine deliveries, the most serious offense having taken place within 1,000 feet of a school.
“Criminals like Simpson put children at risk when they decide to deliver drugs near our schools,” Weis said. “Efforts by my office and law enforcement agencies like CPAT help to protect our children and keep drug dealers away from those who need our protection the most.”
Weis said Simpson is still awaiting trial on unrelated weapons charges in Kendall County.