A 54-year-old Bolingbrook man has been sentenced to 12.5 years in prison for selling fentanyl pills to an Aurora man who subsequently died from ingesting a single pill.
On February 6, 2026, Eric L. Jones was convicted by a jury of Drug-Induced Homicide, Class X felony.
According to prosecutors, on November 25, 2022, and November 26, 2022, the victim, Niko Ramirez, a 27-year-old resident of Aurora, communicated with Jones to arrange a drug purchase. On November 26, 2022, at around 7:30pm, Jones delivered 10 fentanyl pills to Ramirez, who ingested one of the pills later that evening at his residence. A roommate found Ramirez deceased the next morning and called 911. An autopsy determined that Ramirez died from fentanyl intoxication.
The investigation concluded on November 4, 2024, with Jones’ arrest in Elgin by members of the United States Marshall’s Service Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force.
In accordance with Illinois law, Jones must serve at least 75 percent of the sentence. He receives credit for 525 days served in the Kane County jail.
“Niko Ramirez’s family will continue to grieve Niko’s death and struggle with his absence,” Assistant State’s Attorney Jake G. Matekaitis said. “No sentence will ever bring him back, but hopefully this provides them with a sense of justice. Their strength throughout the process gave Niko a voice in the outcome of this case. The defendant is a danger to the community, and this lengthy prison sentence keeps the defendant behind bars where he belongs.”
