Belvidere Man convicted of calculated criminal drug conspiracy

BOONE COUNTY – Boone County State’s Attorney Michelle Courier announced on Thursday, May 5 that Burnell Townsel, 42, of Belvidere, was found guilty following a jury trial of drug charges, including Unlawful Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance and Calculated Criminal Drug Conspiracy.

On or about August 14, 2014,Townsel was arrested for possessing approximately 90 grams of a substance containing heroin.  While in the Boone County Jail, Townsel conspired with others to possess with the intent to deliver an additional approximately 80 grams of a substance containing heroin.

Townsel faces a sentence of 12 to 60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. His sentencing hearing will be held on June 3 at 3 p.m.