A 33-year-old Chicago man was sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to providing a lethal does of heroin/fantanyl to a Naperville man.
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced Wednesday that Shawn Smith entered a plea of guilty to one count of Drug Induced Homicide, a Class X Felony, after which Judge Daniel Guerin handed down the 12-year sentence.
On November 27, 2022, the victim, a twenty-three-year-old male, was found deceased in a bedroom of the family residence. An autopsy determined fentanyl, heroin, diphenhydramine and trazodone toxicity as the cause of death. The victim was prescribed trazodone. Diphenhydramine is an over-the-counter antihistamine commonly referred to as Benadryl. Through the course of an investigation conducted by the Naperville Police Department, authorities identified Smith as the source of the illegal narcotics that led to the victim’s death.
Naperville undercover police officers contacted Smith and arranged to purchase illegal drugs from him on December 5, 2022. Officers pulled Smith over as he was driving to the pre-arranged meeting. He was taken into custody without incident at this time.
“Judge Guerin’s twelve-year-sentence today sends a message of deterrence to any would-be drug dealers that if you supply illegal drugs that result in the death of another person, you will be arrested, charged and face a significant amount of time behind bars if found guilty,” Berlin said. “This young man’s tragic death is yet another stark reminder of the deadly consequences of illegal narcotics.
Smith will be required to serve 75% of his sentence before being eligible for parole.
