Sangamon Co. Crime Stoppers ups reward for fentanyl dealers’ arrests

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — One Central Illinois Crime Stoppers chapter is cracking down on opioid fentanyl by offering an increased reward for tips that lead to fentanyl dealers’ arrests.

Crime Stoppers of Sangamon and Menard Counties said fentanyl is the leading cause of accidental deaths in Sangamon County and in Illinois as a whole, and the crisis is escalating.

Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon reported 82 drug-related deaths in the county last year, compared to 38 five years earlier. Of that number, 80% of the deaths were related to fentanyl.

Statewide, there were 3,261 opioid overdose deaths in 2022, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. That’s twice the number of fatal car crashes and twice the number of homicides. Since 2013, the number of state opioid deaths has exploded by over 3,000% while the number of heroin overdose deaths has actually decreased by 10 percent.

Due to the severity of the opioid drug crisis, Crime Stoppers of Sangamon and Menard Counties is now offering $1,500 for tips that result in the arrest of anyone dealing fentanyl.

“Our goal with this initiative is to remove distributors of fentanyl, interrupt the supply of the drug and, hopefully, save the lives of our residents,” said Officer Chris Jones, Crime Stoppers Coordinator. “We hope to engage people in Sangamon and Menard Counties to help us get the dealers of this exceedingly dangerous drug off our streets and make our neighborhoods safer.”

Reporting methods for tips on crime remain the same: calling 217-788-8427 or visiting Crime Stoppers’ website .

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