California Man Sentenced to 14 Years for Mailing Meth to Chicago

Prosecutors say the defendant coordinated over 200 shipments of high-purity drugs to co-conspirators in the city.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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A 54-year-old California man was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for mailing more than 200 pounds of high-purity methamphetamine to Chicago. Prosecutors say Keith R. McCormick coordinated the shipments, which were then sold on the streets by co-conspirators, with the money sent back to McCormick in California.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing challenge of combating the flow of illegal drugs, particularly methamphetamine, into major cities like Chicago. The high purity of the meth and the large scale of the operation underscore the need for continued law enforcement efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks.

The details

According to federal authorities, McCormick mailed over 200 packages from his home in Sacramento in 2022 and 2023, each containing about a pound of methamphetamine that was between 90% and 100% pure. The packages were sent to co-conspirators in Chicago, who then arranged to sell the drugs on the street, with the money made from those sales shipped back to McCormick in California. McCormick was arrested in March 2023 and pleaded guilty last year to a federal drug conspiracy charge.

  • McCormick mailed the packages from Sacramento in 2022 and 2023.
  • McCormick was arrested in March 2023.
  • McCormick pleaded guilty last year.

The players

Keith R. McCormick

A 54-year-old California man who was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for coordinating the shipment of over 200 pounds of high-purity methamphetamine to Chicago.

Stephen R. Jenkins

A 46-year-old Chicago man who was one of McCormick's co-conspirators and was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

Daniel Heise

A 43-year-old Chicago man who was one of McCormick's co-conspirators and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Donald W. Grenier Jr.

A 64-year-old Chicago man who was one of McCormick's co-conspirators and was sentenced to 4 years in prison.

Jose Hernandez

A 48-year-old Chicago man who was one of McCormick's co-conspirators and was sentenced to 4 years in prison.

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What they’re saying

“We must continue to aggressively target drug trafficking networks that are fueling the addiction crisis in our communities.”

— Zachary T. Fardon, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois (Press Release)

What’s next

Federal authorities have not released additional details about the ongoing investigation, but they have vowed to continue targeting drug trafficking networks that are supplying illegal drugs to major cities like Chicago.

The takeaway

This case demonstrates the scale and sophistication of drug trafficking operations, as well as the need for sustained law enforcement efforts to disrupt the flow of illegal drugs into urban areas. It also highlights the devastating impact that methamphetamine and other hard drugs can have on communities.