2 charged after police discover loaded gun, cocaine during drug sting

A pair of Woodstock men remained at the McHenry County Jail Tuesday following a drug sting that led police to discover about 6.7 grams of cocaine and a loaded pistol with a scratched-off serial number, court records show.

James Cornelius, 25, and Isaiah Dunn-Vigo Gomes, 26, of the 300 block of West Calhoun Street, each is held at the McHenry County Jail on a $150,000 bond.

The situation began on June 18 when a McHenry County sheriff’s deputy learned that Cornelius was using a Snapchat account to arrange marijuana sales, according to court records.

The detective contacted Cornelius through Snapchat and requested to buy about 110 grams of marijuana for $600. Cornelius agreed and told the detective when and where to meet him, court records show.

When the detective and other members of the McHenry County narcotics task force arrive, they found a vehicle that was registered to Cornelius and appeared to have a handgun near the center console, court records show. The handgun was loaded and accessible to both passengers, according to a motion filed by the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Police later identified the gun as a loaded .380 Diamondback pistol with the serial number removed. Neither of the men possessed a Firearm Owner’s Identification Card, according to a set of related criminal complaints.

A police search of the vehicle additionally yielded about 110 grams of marijuana packaged in two different bags. Officers also found 11 individual bags containing a total 6.7 grams of cocaine in Dunn-Vigo Gomes’ possession, court records show.

Both men are charged with armed violence, possession with intent to deliver 30 to 500 grams of marijuana, possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number, possession of a firearm without a FOID Card, possession of ammunition without a FOID card, and possession of 100 to 500 grams of marijuana.

Dunn-Vigo Gomes additionally is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to deliver cocaine.

The most serious charge, armed violence, is a Class X felony.

Dunn-Vigo Gomes and Cornelius both are scheduled to appear in court Wednesday for bond hearings.