Rantoul man faces life in jail in drug case

URBANA – A Rantoul man faces the possibility of life in prison for having almost an ounce of crack cocaine earlier this year.

A federal jury on Tuesday convicted Howard Baker, 28, of Rantoul, of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine in a trial before U.S. District Court Judge Michael McCuskey.

The government presented evidence that Baker was caught by Champaign police in the 200 block of East Hill Street in Champaign on July 24, after a brief chase. In his path of flight, police found 25.2 grams of crack cocaine that they said he had tossed while running.

McCuskey set sentencing for Feb. 16.

Because of two prior drug-related convictions, Baker faces a minimum of 10 years in prison and a possibility of life.

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