SANCHEZ LACKLAND, 35, of Hazel Crest, Illinois, is staring down federal prison time after being indicted on charges tied to a cross-border fentanyl analogue smuggling ring. The south suburban man allegedly imported methoxyacetyl fentanyl from China last fall, shipping the deadly synthetic opioid through the U.S. mail to nearly 20 addresses across the Chicago area, according to a federal indictment unsealed Wednesday.
Law enforcement moved in December, executing a search warrant at Lackland’s home. What they found was a drug operation in full swing: quantities of heroin, methoxyacetyl fentanyl, and acryl fentanyl were seized, along with a loaded revolver and a staggering $300,000 in cash. The indictment confirms Lackland is a convicted felon—making his possession of a firearm a federal crime on its own.
The probe also pulled in JERMOL MIXON, 35, of Orland Park, who faces identical drug and weapons charges. On Dec. 12, 2017, agents tailed Lackland as he delivered a package to Mixon’s residence. A court-authorized raid followed, uncovering more heroin, fentanyl analogues, $10,000 in cash, and equipment used to manufacture drugs—all stashed inside Mixon’s home.
Agents encountered Mixon inside an upstairs room, standing within arm’s reach of a loaded handgun. Like Lackland, Mixon is a convicted felon and legally barred from possessing any firearm. The proximity to the weapon and the drug-laden setup painted a damning picture of a coordinated distribution network operating in plain sight.
The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, alongside top officials from Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew C. Erskine is prosecuting the case, underscoring the federal weight being thrown at the alleged operation.
Both SANCHEZ LACKLAND and JERMOL MIXON are scheduled for arraignment on March 14, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Young B. Kim. The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, sentencing will follow federal statutes and the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
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Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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