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The drug dealer who claimed that he could not get a fair trial on TikTok after his arrest was sentenced to 10 years in prison
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The drug dealer who claimed that he could not get a fair trial on TikTok after his arrest was sentenced to 10 years in prison

The drug dealer who claimed that he could not get a fair trial on TikTok after his arrest was sentenced to 10 years in prison
William Gilbert, 43, of Waukegan, was sentenced to 10 years in prison after McHenry County deputies found him with illegal drugs while checking his broken down car on Route 120 in July 2023. Left Photo: Supplied; Right Photo: TikTok @mindshiftmagic.bd

A drug dealer who once claimed he could not get a fair trial because videos of his arrest were posted on TikTok has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after a plea deal.

William Gilbert, 43, of Waukegan, was sentenced to 10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, a Class X felony.

Gilbert pleaded guilty to the charge Oct. 29 before McHenry County Judge Mark R. Gerhardt.

A McHenry County Sheriff’s deputy was traveling on Illinois Route 120 on July 25, 2023, when he saw a partially disabled vehicle on the road, authorities said.

The driver, Gilbert, told officers he was waiting for his girlfriend’s father to arrive in a tow truck, according to court documents.

Deputies suspected Gilbert of possessing and selling narcotics in McHenry County and deployed the McHenry County Sheriff’s K-9 Deuce to conduct a free aerial sniff of the vehicle and Gilbert.

Authorities said the dog positively alerted to the presence of illegal narcotics on both the driver and passenger side of the vehicle, according to court documents.

Deputies searched Gilbert and allegedly found approximately 26.4 grams of methamphetamine, 4.5 grams of cocaine and fentanyl, and 31.7 grams of heroin on his person.

A bag containing 2.8 grams of cocaine was also found on the driver’s seat floorboard, according to court documents.

Deputies also allegedly found a backpack containing three separate plastic baggies containing approximately 83.9 grams of methamphetamine.

Plastic bags, clear latex gloves, a digital scale with white residue on it and $2,902 in cash were also found inside the Dodge and on Gilbert, according to court documents.

However, during the arrest, deputies attempted to arrest Gilbert, but the criminal complaint stated that Gilbert began to resist when he was handcuffed.

Gilbert allegedly turned away from deputies and fled on foot before locking himself in a vehicle.

A deputy attempted to enter the vehicle through the window and was injured in his right hand.

Deputies were eventually able to take Gilbert into custody.

On Jan. 23, a TikTok page called “mindshiftmagic.bd” uploaded five video segments from a deputy’s body-worn camera showing the July 2023 arrest involving Gilbert.

Gilbert’s attorney, Roderick Drobinski, filed a motion arguing that the TikTok videos present several issues for the defense, including “potential tainting of the jury pool, mishandling of evidence related to an ongoing criminal prosecution, and potential ethical or criminal law violations.”

TikTok videos have been viewed nearly 3 million times.

McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick D. Kenneally said in a news release that he appreciated the thoroughness and thorough investigative work of attorneys for the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department and the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office in the case.

“The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting the community from illegal drugs,” Kenneally said.