Carpentersville man nabbed in drug bust

A Carpentersville man accused of being the leader of a wholesale drug ring operating in the western suburbs was arrested by the FBI Friday morning.

Frank Affatigato, 45, of 3105 Hawthorn Hill Lane, was charged with violation of federal drug laws, specifically, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, according to the FBI.

Affatigato was scheduled to appear at a hearing Friday afternoon at the U.S. District Court in Chicago.

The others who were arrested on the same charges by the FBI were Thomas Francissen, 38, of 2821 Waterfront Ave., Algonquin; Theodore Q. Mitchell Jr., 37, of 289 Monarch Drive, Streamwood; John M. Payne, 45, of 1710 Monticello Road, Hoffman Estates; and Donald O. Reed Jr., 45, of 1455 E. Evergreen Court, Palatine.

Three other Chicago men were arrested and another Chicago man is being sought in a nationwide manhunt.

"About 3½ kilos were purchased in the past year by the investigators from members of the ring, which primarily dealt in cocaine, but some marijuana also was purchased," said Special Agent Ross Rice of the FBI. "These guys were not your street-level dealers; they were the wholesalers who sold the drugs to the dealers."

Purchases of drugs were made by undercover agents over the past year, and electronic and physical surveillance was used, Rice said.

The charges against the eight men were filed by U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald.

The men could face up to life in prison if they are convicted of these charges.

The Carpentersville Police Department was one of six agencies involved in the investigation.