Streamwood man charged with intent to deliver cocaine

A Cook County judge set bail at $90,000 Monday for a 22-year-old Streamwood man charged with multiple drug-related offenses following an undercover narcotics investigation conducted by Streamwood police.

Gaetano Traversa, of the 0-100 block of Brookstone Drive, has been charged with unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, a class X felony punishable by six to 30 years in prison, prosecutors said. He also faces possession charges, prosecutors said.

Acting on information about someone selling cocaine in Streamwood, police set up an undercover investigation, said Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Jennifer Walsh.

On July 1, an undercover officer gave Traversa $100 for 1.7 grams of what police suspected was cocaine, Walsh said. On July 8, the same detective met with Traversa in a car at a parking lot in the 1000 block of South Sutton Road. The officer agreed to purchase 19.3 grams of cocaine for $700, Walsh said. At that point, Traversa exited the officer’s car and approached another car containing co-defendant Matthew Castino, Walsh said. Traversa gave Castino the money, and Castino gave Traversa two plastic bags of cocaine which Traversa handed to the officer, Walsh said.

Police took Traversa into custody the following day, Walsh said. A search of his residence revealed 15 grams of a white powdery substance which police believe is cocaine, along with 53 pills, said Walsh, who did not identify the type of pills.

Castino, 19, also faces charges that he intended to deliver a controlled substance. A Cook County judge set his bail at $15,000 earlier this month.

Traversa has a pending case for misdemeanor possession of cannabis, Walsh said. Additionally, he was sentenced to two years supervision for possession of cannabis in 2010, Walsh said, the same year he received two years supervision for DUI. In 2009 he was sentenced to one year conditional discharge for resisting arrest, Walsh said.

Traversa next appears in court on Aug. 11.