A federal jury has convicted Marcus “Slim” McKinney, 49, of Danville, Illinois, on eight counts related to drug distribution and related offenses. The verdict was delivered on November 19, 2025, at the U.S. Courthouse in Urbana, Illinois. McKinney was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution and possession with intent to distribute significant amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine, maintaining premises for drug activity, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering.
The jury determined that McKinney distributed drugs that resulted in serious bodily injury to one woman and caused the death of another woman, Maggie Avelar. Sentencing is set for March 23, 2026.
During five days of testimony, prosecutors presented evidence showing that after his release from federal prison on April 6, 2023—while under home confinement with electronic monitoring—McKinney conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine (referred to as "ice"), cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. The government alleged that he exchanged drugs for sex and falsely told a woman that a substance contained only cocaine; she later overdosed but survived after treatment by first responders. That same weekend in April 2023 saw three additional overdoses linked to drugs provided by McKinney; one victim died from the overdose.
McKinney reportedly continued his activities at two different addresses in Danville before being required to move to a halfway house in Springfield in September 2023. There, he continued distributing drugs. On June 20, 2024, he sold over a pound of methamphetamine to a confidential source working with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Six days later, DEA agents seized more than two pounds of methamphetamine and over five kilograms of cocaine from storage lockers in Springfield registered under the confidential source’s name.
The jury also found that McKinney engaged in witness tampering while awaiting trial by writing a letter urging a potential witness to provide false statements regarding other witnesses’ testimony about his drug activities.
Following his arrest on June 26, 2024 in Springfield, McKinney has remained in custody. He faces mandatory life imprisonment due to these convictions and his prior federal drug convictions.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Danville Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; the Springfield Police Department; and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eugene L. Miller and Timothy J. Sullivan prosecuted the case.
