A federal jury in Urbana, Illinois, has convicted Marcus “Slim” McKinney, 49, of Danville, on eight counts related to drug distribution and associated crimes. The verdicts include conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution and possession with intent to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine, maintaining premises for drug activity, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering. The jury also determined that McKinney distributed drugs resulting in serious injury to one woman and the death of another woman, Maggie Avelar.
McKinney was released from federal prison on April 6, 2023, under home confinement at 210 South State Street in Danville. Evidence presented during the five-day trial showed that between his release and arrest on June 26, 2024, he conspired with others to distribute crystal methamphetamine (“ice”), cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. Testimony indicated that he exchanged drugs for sex with women.
The government’s case included details about an incident over the weekend of April 15, 2023. During this time period, McKinney gave an opioid to a woman who overdosed but survived after receiving Narcan from local emergency responders. According to testimony at trial: “McKinney had falsely told the woman the substance only contained cocaine.” Three other individuals also overdosed that same weekend on drugs provided by McKinney; one man died as a result.
After moving later that summer to 111 Kentucky Avenue in Danville, McKinney continued his drug activities. On August 19, 2023, he distributed a mixture of methamphetamine and fentanyl—referred to as a “Hot Shot”—to Maggie Avelar at this address. She died from the overdose. The following day: “McKinney and his brother, James ‘Brownski’ Young, lied to the Danville Police Department about the circumstances surrounding Avelar’s death to attempt to avoid law enforcement learning about McKinney’s true involvement in the overdose.”
In September 2023 McKinney relocated again—this time required by authorities—to a halfway house in Springfield. There he continued distributing drugs; on June 20, 2024 he sold over one pound of methamphetamine to a confidential source working with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Six days later DEA agents seized more than two pounds of methamphetamine and over five kilograms of cocaine from storage lockers registered under another person’s name but used by McKinney.
The jury found that while awaiting trial in January 2025: “McKinney engaged in witness tampering… when he wrote a letter to a potential witness urging her to contact McKinney’s attorney and falsely say that other witnesses were lying about McKinney’s drug activities and were trying to get her to lie as well.”
McKinney remains held by U.S. Marshals since his arrest last year. He faces mandatory life imprisonment due to his convictions—including those involving fatal drug distribution—and two prior federal drug convictions.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Danville Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Springfield Police Department; and DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eugene L. Miller and Timothy J. Sullivan prosecuted the case.
