Naperville Woman Among 30 Charged in DuPage-Cook Heroin Bust

Written by Amanda Luevano

A 25-year-old Naperville woman is among 30 people who have been charged in a large heroin trafficking ring that operated in DuPage and Cook counties, authorities said.

Twenty-two of the 30 people charged in the sweep appeared in DuPage County court Wednesday morning, according to DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin.


In addition to drug conspiracy and sales charges, 17 individuals were charged with violating the state's new Street Gang and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Law (RICO). Under the law, individuals facing specific charges—such as controlled substance trafficking, as is alleged in this case—will face much stiffer penalties if it can be proven that their individual illegal activities were part of a larger criminal conspiracy involving others and conducted over a period of time.

"Today’s sweep is yet another blow to drug dealers operating in DuPage County,” Berlin said in a statement. “Heroin peddlers are poisoning our communities every day. They ruin families. They cost people financially and in many cases cost people their lives either through overdose or through the violence that inevitably follows drug dealers."

The charges are the result of a six-month investigation by the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, DuMeg (DuPage Metropolitan Enforcement Group), the Chicago Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Illinois State Police (ISP) and more than a dozen local law enforcement agencies, Berlin said.

The investigation began in February after police recovered heroin during a search of a Carol Stream residence, according to a Chicago Tribune report.

During the investigation, police tapped 17 phone lines and spent thousands of hours conducting surveillance.

Police said the investigation led them to dozens of suspects—some of whom are still on the loose—who were responsible for the sale of $2,500 to $3,500 worth of heroin daily.

Authorities allege that Andres Garcia, 26, of Chicago, ran the operation using six cell phones—all of which were wiretapped by detectives. He is accused of distributing kilos of heroin to several lieutenants and a half-dozen major buyers, who sold the drug to customers across Chicago and DuPage County, according to the Tribune.

DuPage County has experienced more than 70 heroin overdose deaths in the past 20 months, which averages out to nearly one per week, Berlin said. 

"The charges brought against these 31 individuals should serve as a stiff deterrent to drug dealers—if you come to DuPage County, we will find you, you will be arrested and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Berlin said.

Special Agent Jack Riley of the Chicago Field Division of the DEA praised the law enforcement agencies that participated in the sweep.

"People need to wake up and realize that heroin is no longer just an inner-city problem,” Riley said in a statement. “It's here in the suburbs and kids are dying from it. Mexican Cartels are using street gangs to peddle this poison and they don't care what happens to the children or about the violence it breeds in the community.”


Complete List of Individuals Charged

Vanessa Hernandez, 25, of Naperville
Antoinne Steele, 42, of the 1700 block of North McVicker Avenye in Chicago
Steven Phillips, 37, of the 0-50 block of North Lind in Hillside
Terrance Steele, 35, of the 1600 block of North Parkside in Chicago
Brandon Brown, 40, of the 5100 block of West St. Paul Avenue in Chicago
Alvin Dickens, 29, of the 1100 block of North Lorel Avenue in Chicago
Khristopher Weddington-Hawkins, 27, of the 1100 block of North Lorel Avenue in Chicago
Antonio Magee, 27, of the 1800 block of South Ridgeway in Chicago
Jason Savado (age and address not provided)
Lucia Cummings, 48, of the 2000 block of Scott Street in Melrose Park
Kevin Jennings, 39, of the 1600 block of North Parkside in Chicago
Kelly Olmetti, 30, of the 1400 block of North 14th Avenue in Melrose Park
Michael Czysczon, 32, of the 0-50 block of South Roberts Road in Inverness
Jonathan Kosloske of Glendale Heights
Felicia Cortez, 18, of the 3600 block of West Cortland Street in Chicago
Danielle Dollinger, 28, of the 1200 block of Johnson Drive in Buffalo Grove
Rosalie Sanchez of the 5500 block of Wrightwood in Chicago
Jose Rodriguez of the 5500 block of Wrightwood in Chicago
Donald Black, 45, of the 1000 block of Brown Street in Evanston
Rene Covert, 29, of the 5000 block of South Central Basement in Chicago
Demetrious Massey, 37, of the 1300 block of North Hudson in Chicago
Joseph Scarpelli, 34, of the 400 block of Goodrich Avenue in Glen Ellyn
Wendy Scarpelli, 34, of the 400 block of Goodrich Avenue in Glen Ellyn
Michael Roder, 29, of the 5700 block of Gardner Court in Hanover Park
Andres Garcia, 26, of the 4900 block of West Concord Place in Chicago
Juan Reyes, 23, of the 900 block of North Laramie Avenue in Chicago
Jimmy Serrano, 25, currently in custody at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago
Jason Serrano, 28, of the 4000 block of North Kilborn Avenue in Chicago (currently on electronic monitoring)

*Editor's note: From the DuPage County State's Attorney: “Through the course of the investigation regarding heroin trafficking in DuPage County, Kiara Landin was mistakenly identified as a target in the investigation. In fact, Ms. Landin was never a target of the investigation or involved in the alleged trafficking ring in any way. A previously issued arrest warrant for Ms. Landin has been quashed and no further action will be taken regarding Ms. Landin. On behalf of the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, I apologize for any inconvenience or distress this issue has caused Ms. Landin.”