Owners of Buffalo Grove pizzeria charged with drug trafficking
An Arlington Heights couple who own a Buffalo Grove pizzeria have been charged with conducting a drug trafficking operation, authorities said Friday.
Maria Garza, 37, and Carmelo Rios, 35, both of Arlington Heights, were arrested and charged with criminal drug conspiracy as a result of a six-month undercover investigation, according to the Cook County state's attorney's office. Four others were also arrested on the same charges.
The couple own and operate DeLuca's Pizzeria and Catering, which opened in August at 1008 Weiland Road in Buffalo Grove.
Investigators said Garza and Rios were importers of kilogram quantities of heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana, and arranged for shipments of heroin from Mexico to the Chicago area for distribution locally and to buyers on the East Coast.
Prosecutors said surveillance conducted during the operation captured the couple arranging the delivery, sale and transportation of the drugs.
“Two of the individuals charged in this investigation with drug conspiracy attempted to legitimize themselves as business owners to cover up the alleged distribution of devastating illegal drugs,” said Jack Riley, special agent in charge of the Chicago division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, in a statement.
Authorities executed search warrants Thursday at their Arlington Heights home and at the pizzeria.
On Friday night, the Buffalo Grove pizzeria was open for business as usual. Rios' son, Carmelo Rios Jr., 17, said he talked to his dad, who told him to “keep your head up and keep the pizzeria open.”
“I don't think it's fair. I don't think it's real. I think my dad is innocent. I know what type of person he is,” Rios Jr. said.
Also arrested on criminal drug conspiracy charges were:
Ÿ Victor Zaragoza, 55, of Chicago.
Ÿ Jorge Alberto-Gonzalez, 30, of Chicago.
Ÿ Alexander Colon-Ortiz, 37, of Philadelphia.
Ÿ Fredy Arroyo-Ortuna, 32, of Placentia, Calif.
Authorities said Zaragoza arranged for drugs to come from Mexico to Chicago, Arroyo-Ortuna delivered the drugs here, and Colon-Ortiz arranged for drug sales on the East Coast.
Warrants have also been issued for two other suspects.
Agents from the DEA recovered approximately 7.5 kilograms of heroin, 1 kilogram of methamphetamine and 5.1 pounds of marijuana — all with an estimated street value of $900,000.
Garza, Zaragoza and Alberto-Gonzalez appeared in bond court Friday. Garza's bail was set at $1 million, Zaragoza's at $850,000 and Alberto-Gonzalez's at $700,000.
Rios and Colon-Ortiz have been in custody since Nov. 21, when authorities pulled over their vehicle after learning the two would be making a delivery of heroin and marijuana.
Arroyo-Ortuna is in custody in California and will be extradited to Chicago.
Preliminary hearings for all suspects expect Arroyo-Ortuna and Zaragoza are scheduled for Monday.
They each face 15 to 60 years in prison if convicted.