La Salle County drug dealer sentenced 13 years

An Aurora man was ordered to prison last week for drug dealing in La Salle County, but he still faces drug charges in Kane County.

Derrick R. Aquino Jr., 25, pleaded guilty to selling cocaine to an informant Nov. 20. As part of his plea bargain, he was then sentenced to 13 years in prison. A few years could be shaved off for good behavior. However, Aquino is also facing drug charges in Kane County, where he is being held pending proceedings there.

The Tri-County Drug Enforcement Narcotics Team and the Kane County Sheriff's Office handled the investigation into Aquino.

Aquino, through his attorney, had been claiming La Salle County prosecutors should be barred from using police recordings of him, contending the recordings were illegally made. However, he abandoned that tack and pleaded guilty.

Aquino, who has had addresses in rural Mendota and Marseilles, was on probation for a La Salle County burglary at the time he was charged.