Cocaine Trafficking Investigation Nets Charges

DeKalb County State’s Attorney Richard Schmack announced today that charges have been filed against, Edgar Eduardo Mendez Pena of LaGrulla, Texas, Manuel Alejandro Alvaraz of Rio Grande City, Texas, Roger Gonzalez of Brownsville, Texas and Jesus Cepeda of Aurora, Illinois arising from a cocaine trafficking investigation by Task Force Officers assigned to Homeland Security Investigations.

All four are charged with Controlled Substance Trafficking, a Class X Felony, and Unlawful Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, also a Class X Felony. Controlled Substance Trafficking is punishable by 30-60 years in the Department of Corrections and the Unlawful Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance is punishable by 15-60 years. The sentencing ranges are tied to the amount of cocaine seized. Seizures took place in rural Esmond in DeKalb County, and another location elsewhere in Northern Illinois.

The investigation seized a total of approximately 120 kilograms of cocaine and $436,000.00 in United States currency.

Bail on the warrants was set at $5,000,000 for each defendant. All four will appear on today’s video bond call at 1:00 p.m.

“These seizures and arrests strike a blow against traffickers in large amounts of a dangerous controlled substance, and we are proud to have worked with this Task Force to bring these charges here in DeKalb County,” State’s Attorney Schmack said. State’s Attorney Schmack commends Assistant State’s Attorney’s Dave Weichel and Howard Oestry and First Assistant Stephanie Klein for their work on this case.