18 charged in Aurora drug probe

Authorities charged 18 people and seized 335 grams of cocaine, 22 grams of cannabis, 2 grams of Ecstasy and two vehicles in a two-month investigation of drug dealing in Aurora, police said Tuesday.

Police took 12 suspects into custody over the weekend, but six remain at large.

The suspects, 17 of whom are from Aurora, allegedly sold cocaine, cannabis and/or Ecstasy to undercover investigators at the The End Zone Bar & Grill, 1650 N. Farnsworth Ave.; Joe’s Cantina, 112 E. Galena Blvd.; Club Gala, 210 E. Galena Blvd.; or near the intersection of Galena and LaSalle Street.

Drugs seized in the investigation have an estimated street value of $34,000, police said.

Aurora residents in custody facing drug charges are:

Ÿ Amber Alvarez, 32, of the 1700 block of North Farnsworth Avenue, charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver within 1,000 feet of a school, unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and unlawful delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school.

Ÿ Luis Campos, 38, of the 1000 block of Kenmore Avenue, charged with unlawful delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school, unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Ÿ Juan Jimenez, 31, of the 700 block of Front Street, charged with unlawful delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a church and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Ÿ Oscar Tovar, 28, of the 800 block of North Rathbone Avenue.

Ÿ Jesus Garcia, 28, of the 100 block of Oakview Avenue.

Ÿ Juan Leon, 23, of the 100 block of Woodlawn Avenue.

Ÿ Jose Resendiz, 30, of the 500 block of Sixth Avenue.

Tovar, Jesus Garcia, Leon and Resendiz all are charged with unlawful delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a church, unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Ÿ Armando Valerio Rios, 43, of the 500 block of East Galena Boulevard, charged with two counts each of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a church, unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Ÿ Reyna Cruz, 31, of the 800 block of Hinman Street.

Ÿ Gilda Ruales, 25, of the 1000 block of Solfisburg Avenue.

Cruz and Ruales both are charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a church, unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Ÿ Joseph Moore, 26, of the 300 block of Oak Street, charged with unlawful delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a church, unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Also charged and in police custody is Emigdio Bustos, 33, of the 2100 block of Glenwood, Joliet, charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Police still are searching for six suspects, all from Aurora:

Ÿ Rosario Hernandez, 36, of the 800 block of Gates Street.

Ÿ Jose Romero-Maravilla, 27, of the 600 block of South River Street.

Ÿ Roberto Dieppa, 25, of the 200 block of Prairie Street.

Ÿ Arturo Rios, 25, of the 600 block of Forrest Avenue.

Hernandez, Romero-Maravilla, Dieppa and Arturo Rios all are wanted for unlawful delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school, unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Ÿ Tiburcio Becerra, 36, of the 300 block of North Union Street, is wanted for two counts each of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a church, unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Ÿ Victor Garcia, 35, of the 1200 block of Fifth Avenue, is wanted for unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver within 1,000 feet of a church, unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, unlawful delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a church, unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Anyone with information on the suspects at large is asked to call (630) 256-5600 or place an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at (630) 892-1000 for a possible $5,000 cash reward for information leading to an arrest.

The Aurora Police Department’s Special Operations Group and the North Central Narcotics Task Force of Illinois State Police were assisted in the investigation by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Kane County state’s attorney’s office.

Reports of alleged drug sales at the three taverns will be sent to Aurora’s city clerk for possible liquor law violation hearings.