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Geneva Man Among 11 Charged in West Suburban Heroin Ring Investigation
Eleven area men face drug conspiracy charges in connection with bringing heroin to the suburbs.
Officials charged 11 men—including one from Geneva—earlier this week with bringing heroin to the western suburbs, DuPage County Sheriff John Zaruba announced Thursday.
Miguel Fernandez, 23, of West Chicago was arrested Feb. 26 after an investigation conducted by members of the sheriff's offices' Tactical Narcotics Team (TNT), the Sheriff’s SR-22 Unit, West Chicago Police Department, Woodridge Police Department and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security showed he was allegedly delivering heroin to people in the area, including a minor near school property, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.
Fernandez is charged with Unlawful Criminal Drug Conspiracy, a Class X felony, seven counts of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance, a Class 1 felony, two counts of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance Within 1,000 feet of School Property, a Class X Felony, and Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance to a person under the age of 18.
The other men charged after the initial investigation include:
- Ivan Espinal, 20, of West Chicago, is charged with Unlawful Criminal Drug Conspiracy and Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance.
- Fernando Lopez, 20, of Geneva, is charged with Unlawful Criminal Drug Conspiracy and Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance.
- Miguel Ramirez, 24, of Warrenville, is charged with Unlawful Criminal Drug Conspiracy and two counts of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance.
- Pablo Ramirez, 19, of Warrenville, is charged with Unlawful Criminal Drug Conspiracy and two counts of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance.
- Jesus Guerrero, 20, of West Chicago, is charged with Unlawful Criminal Drug Conspiracy and Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance.
- Pierre Atkinson, 25, and Billy Turnage, of Chicago, were both charged with Unlawful Criminal Drug Conspiracy.
A subsequent investigation resulted in five additional charges for the following men:
- Manuel Gonzalez, 20, of West Chicago, is charged with Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance With the Intent to Deliver, a Class 1 felony.
- Jonathan Guerrero, 20, of Naperville, is charged with Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, a Class 4 Felony.
- Oscar Vivaldo-Avila, 24, of Warrenville, is charged with Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver.
Officials said Fernandez, Espinal, Pablo Ramirez, Miguel Ramirez, Guerrero, Vivaldo-Avila, Atkinson and Turnage are all gang affiliated.
Guerrero posted 10 percent bail for his $60,000 bond. Atkinson and Turnage remain at DuPage County Jail on $300,000 bond and the rest of the men remain at the jail on $100,000 bond.
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Lou B.
11:35 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
How the heck did a guy named "Pierre Atkinson" get in this list. Must be a typo.
Dale Seidel
9:02 am on Sunday, March 3, 2013
Simple Lou, he's the only one with a valid driver's license and insurance. You don't want to peddle heroin without that.
R G
6:52 am on Saturday, March 2, 2013
Or Billy Turnage
Marjorie Anderson
8:37 am on Saturday, March 2, 2013
Good work law enforcement agencies.
ANN MARIE
9:35 am on Saturday, March 2, 2013
Are any of these people illegal citizens?
Scott Hamlin
10:12 am on Saturday, March 2, 2013
Most likely just undocumented drug dealers. Under the new rules we must give them driver's licenses and of course, the right to marry each other.
Storm Nielsen
11:37 am on Saturday, March 2, 2013
That's why they call it Dope.
Dick Naylor
2:45 pm on Saturday, March 2, 2013
i wonder if "the tip of the iceberg" resonates with anyone. How many similar events, if not identical, have happened and will continue to happen in who knows how many communities within the USA. Thanks to the hard work of our police officials, at all levels everywhere, who endeavor to keep America safe.
May those in elected office have the courage and vision to "LEAD or be replaced by an informed and concerned electorate" in tackling this and the litany of "cancerous" national problems plaguing America, some of which those elected officials have created, e.g. America's DEBT!!
Andy
8:08 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013
Scott you are so ignorant. I know all of these guys and they are legal. Why in the world would you assume they might be illegal?
Andy
8:10 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013
Dale is also an ignorant person talking like you know something? I know all of these people and I can tell you at least one has a license. Can't even believe the ignorance here
Dale Seidel
8:06 am on Monday, March 4, 2013
You're right Andy, I apologize for my ignorance. I spoke intemperantly. Since you "...know all these people" and I have lived such a dull and sheltered life, please pass on my apology the next time you meet with them. You don't have to drop over with them; I'd be too embarrased, Just where did you get so tight with your Buds, church choir practice?