A Chicago resident, Hugo Pinzon, was sentenced on April 2 to nine years in federal prison after pleading guilty to drug and firearm charges. Pinzon had been found in possession of fentanyl, cocaine, and 17 firearms at his Wicker Park home during a law enforcement search in April 2024.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about the impact of narcotics distribution and illegal firearms on communities. Authorities say that such offenses contribute to broader issues affecting families and neighborhoods.
During the court-authorized search of Pinzon’s residence, officers discovered not only drugs but also a money-counting machine, a digital scale used for weighing narcotics, and $95,456 in cash believed to be proceeds from drug sales. Investigators determined that Pinzon had previously sold drugs on three occasions earlier in 2024 to an individual cooperating with law enforcement. As a convicted felon, he was legally prohibited from possessing any firearms.
U.S. District Judge John F. Kness handed down the sentence following Pinzon's guilty plea last year. The announcement came from Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, along with Matthew Scarpino of Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago. The Carpentersville Police Department also provided substantial assistance during the investigation.
“Distribution of narcotics, particularly cocaine and fentanyl, is a very serious offense,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey S. Snell said in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “These addictive drugs destroy lives and shatter families. In addition to the narcotics defendant kept in his house, he also kept an array of 17 firearms, knowing that he had previously been convicted of a felony and was not permitted to possess a firearm.”
Authorities continue efforts against drug trafficking offenses involving dangerous substances like fentanyl as well as illegal gun possession by individuals with prior convictions.
