Charges dropped against two in 'Dial-a-Rock' case

Prosecutors dismissed charges against two defendants arrested during last month's "Dial-a-Rock" drug sweep in the Northwest suburbs.

Charges were dropped against Robert Fueling, 32, of Bartlett, and Kimberly Goertz, 47, of Elk Grove Village. Insufficient evidence prompted prosecutors to drop the charges of possession of a controlled substance, said a Cook County State's Attorney spokeswoman, adding that neither defendant had a criminal background.

Twenty-three people were arrested in the April 15 sweep led by the Arlington Heights Police Department with assistance from the Chicago office of the Drug Enforcement Administration. Police from Des Plaines, Elk Grove Village, Mount Prospect, Rolling Meadows and Schaumburg assisted in the sting targeting a suspected drug ring.

Authorities described the operation as a dial-up service operated by Ector Cortez, of the 2800 block of Algonquin Road in Rolling Meadows. Cortez has been charged with criminal drug conspiracy and distribution of a controlled substance.

Described by authorities as the ringleader, Cortez is being held in Cook County Jail on $1 million cash bail, meaning he has to come up with the entire amount to be released from custody. He next appears in court on May 7.