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Two arrested after $1M Kane County heroin bust

Two people were charged with selling an estimated $1 million worth of black tar heroin to an undercover officer near Aurora, authorities said.

Polet Bucio-Perez, 27, of the 600 block of East Downer Place, Aurora, and Jerardo Espinoza-Zepeda, 43, of San Bernadino, California, were arrested Friday on charges they delivered more than 900 grams of the drug to an undercover officer, according to Kane County court records.

Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain said his office worked with the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, Elgin and Chicago police in the investigation that culminated when a heroin broker, Espinoza-Zepeda, and the deliverer, Bucio-Perez, made the drug deal with the undercover officer and were arrested in a parking lot at Farnsworth Avenue and Sheffer Road near Aurora about noon Friday.

Hain said officers seized 2,283 grams, or more than five pounds, of black tar heroin that has a street value of about $1 million.

Because of the amount of heroin each defendant is accused of delivering, each suspect faces an enhanced punishment of 15 to 60 years in prison if convicted of the most severe charge of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

Hain said his office is working to help treat addicts while combating the flow of drugs into Kane County.

"If you choose to come into Kane County and traffic in bulk heroin, you're going to go to prison for a very long time," he said.

Bucio-Perez does not have any previous criminal offenses in Kane County other than traffic tickets. Friday's charges are the first in Kane County against Espinoza-Zepeda, who is next due in court Feb. 22.

Bucio-Perez is due in court Feb. 21.

Both Bucio-Perez and Espinoza-Zepeda are held at the Kane County jail on $7 million bail, meaning each must post $700,000 to be released while the case is pending. If either is able to post bail, they must turn over their passport before release.

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Polet Bucio-Perez
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