'Potential To Cause Immeasurable Harm:' Downers Grove Man Accused Of Trafficking Fentanyl In McHenry County

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — A Downers Grove man faces felony drug trafficking charges after police say he had 227 grams of fentanyl on him in Crystal Lake. Aaron Johnson, 30, is also accused of having a loaded handgun, fentanyl, heroin and drug-trafficking paraphernalia at an apartment while his pregnant girlfriend and her son, 10, were there.

Johnson was arrested July 16 after a months-long investigation that involved an undercover officer who performed "controlled buys," a news release said. During these controlled buys, police say they recovered:

• More than 60 grams of fentanyl mixed with cocaine
• More than 30 grams of fentanyl mixed with heroin and cocaine
• Close to 300 counterfeit M30 fentanyl pills

Police say Johnson agreed to sell the officer 500 counterfeit M30 fentanyl pills, one ounce of fentanyl and five ounces of cocaine, at which time a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Johnson was taken into custody July 16.

During the investigation, police say they learned Johnson "regularly traveled to Arizona, maintained contacts in Arizona and Mexico, had a criminal history that included prior flight and escape-related offenses, and had allegedly used fraudulent identities to obtain rental properties, making his whereabouts more difficult to determine."

During Johnson's pre-trial detention hearing, McHenry County State's Attorney Garrett Miller said, "This man didn’t just bring illegal drugs into McHenry County. He brought death to our county."

McHenry County State's Attorney Randi Freese said, "This case demonstrates the relentless commitment our Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Task Force has to removing this deadly poison from our communities before it claims more lives. The quantities of fentanyl recovered during this investigation had the potential to cause immeasurable harm."

Johnson is being held at McHenry County Jail and is set to appear in court on July 31.