BLOOMINGTON — An Oklahoma man has been released from McLean County custody, accused of trafficking nearly 100 pounds of cannabis across multiple states.
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Rui X. Chen, 41, of Yukon, Oklahoma, is charged with cannabis trafficking, a Class X felony; unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver, a Class X felony; and unlawful possession of cannabis, a Class 1 felony.
Chen appeared in court Friday afternoon for an initial appearance in custody before Judge Scott Black. Assistant State’s Attorney David Fitt filed a petition to detain the defendant on the grounds of dangerousness.
According to the probable cause statement, these charges stem from a traffic stop in which Chen was pulled over about 4:10 a.m. Thursday in a black pickup truck.
Police said Chen, who was alone in the vehicle, was committing various Illinois vehicle code violations while traveling north on Interstate 55, Fitt said.
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During the traffic stop, a K-9 unit arrived on scene and indicated for the presence of drugs.
Officers search the vehicle, and in the truck bed, they found three large garbage bags containing large amounts of cannabis individually packaged for sale in 30 vacuum-sealed bricks.
The total weight of the cannabis was 97 pounds, or 42,574 grams.
Fitt said the estimated wholesale estimated value of the cannabis is $187,000, and the conservative street value estimate is $510,000.
Chen was given a card that explained his rights, and he agreed to speak further with Illinois State Police investigators. The defendant told state police he left Oklahoma around 11 a.m. Wednesday and stopped once at a gas station, on his way to Chicago.
In arguing for his release, Assistant Public Defender ViVi Phan said Chen would abide to any conditions imposed by the court. She said her client would not be a flight risk or a danger to the community since he does not live locally.
Fitt disagreed, noting Chen’s lack of connection to the community could impose a potential risk.
“Even if he is a cog in a machine … he is a part of a drug trade,” Fitt said.
Phan also argued the state had not proven Chen had committed this offense.
“Gas stations do not sell half a million dollars of cannabis,” Fitt said, bringing attention to the defendant’s admission that he had only stopped once for gas during his drive from Oklahoma to Illinois.
Black ruled to release the defendant, with mandatory conditions of release, plus discretionary conditions. Chen was ordered not to consume or possess alcohol, cannabis or controlled substances, submit to pretrial monitoring and stay in Illinois.
Chen is scheduled for an arraignment Feb. 28.
Contact Kaitlyn Klepec at (309) 820-3345.
“}]] A man from Yukon, Oklahoma, has been released in McLean County after being accused of trafficking nearly 100 pounds of cannabis across multiple states. The incident occurred when he was pulled over on I-55 and found with a substantial amount of cannabis in his vehicle. The defendant is scheduled for an arraignment on February 28. Read More
