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Dealer who sold heroin to sailor gets 5 years

A North Chicago drug dealer who sold heroin to a sailor who later died in an overdose was sentenced Monday to five years in prison.

Lorenzo Espinoza, 19, pleaded guilty to selling heroin to 24-year-old Damage Controlman Fireman Apprentice Michael Falzone of New Jersey.

Falzone, who was stationed at Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill., died June 7, 2008, according to the Great Lakes base newspaper. He was one of three heroin-related deaths among sailors or recruits near the base last year.

Lake County Circuit Judge John Phillips sentenced Espinoza to five years for his plea to unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, a court official said.

Espinoza was initially charged and indicted on a charge of drug-induced homicide, which carried a sentence of up to 60 years, a court official said.

Other heroin-related deaths from Naval Station Great Lakes include Seaman Recruit Owen Martinez, 18, who died March 3, 2008, and Machinist’s Mate Fireman Recruit James Stephens, 20, who was found dead July 20, 2008, outside a motel near the base.

In Martinez’s death, local prosecutors in Illinois charged 24-year-old Kelton Lewis with drug-induced homicide and the case is pending in state court, according to Lake County prosecutor Stephen Derue.

In Stevens’ death, Navy officials court-martialed Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Mechanical) Fireman Justin McMurrin, 26, in June and sentenced him to 5½ years in the brig. McMurrin abandoned Stevens as he was dying of a drug overdose, Navy officials said.