$15 million bail for alleged drug conspirator

Bail was set at $15 million Friday for a rural Maple Park man charged with possessing and conspiring to sell large amounts of cocaine and heroin.

Fernando Pilar-Lopez, 37, was arrested Thursday after police searched his home on Meredith Road in unincorporated Kane County, seizing more than $1 million in cash and $280,000 in cocaine, according to prosecutors.

Authorities said Pilar-Lopez came under investigation in mid-July after DEA agents in Phoenix intercepted a package from a U.S. Postal Service facility, which contained 900 grams of heroin - valued at $600,000 - and was addressed to a post office box in DeKalb.

The subsequent search of his home turned up an additional 2,800 grams of cocaine, transaction ledgers, a money counter and evidence tying Pilar-Lopez to the DeKalb post office box, prosecutors said.

"This case goes well beyond a single drug dealer," Kane County State's Attorney John Barsanti said in a statement. "Not only does this impact him where it hurts the most, which is in the wallet, it also puts a dent in this defendant's ability to continue on his criminal enterprise."

Pilar-Lopez is charged with one count each of criminal drug conspiracy, money laundering and unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. He appeared in court Friday in front of Associate Judge James C. Hallock, who set bail at $15 million.

In addition, Hallock granted a motion made by the state that requires Pilar-Lopez to reveal the source of his income should he be able to post the necessary $1.5 million bond to get out of the county jail.

Barsanti's office noted that Pilar-Lopez's home is roughly one mile from both Kaneland Middle School and Kaneland High School, but said the proximity appears to be coincidental.

The case is being investigated jointly by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Kane County Sheriff's Office and Assistant State's Attorney Kelly Orland.

Pilar-Lopez returns to court Sept. 9.