Elgin man charged in cocaine buy

An Elgin man was arrested Wednesday as he tried to buy more than a kilo of cocaine from undercover Elgin officers at the Huntley Factory Outlet Shops, police said today.

Norberto Leon, 39, of 326 McClure Ave., Elgin, was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, police said.

Leon had made previous arrangements with the undercover cops to pick up the cocaine there, police said.

On Wednesday, officers set up in an outlet mall parking lot, placing about five pounds of fake cocaine in a Chevrolet Cavalier, police said.

Shortly before 7 p.m., Leon arrived in a black Ford Excursion, police said.

Elgin officers watched as Leon left his vehicle, opened the trunk of the Cavalier, picked up the yellow backpack containing the cocaine and removed the kilo of cocaine, police said.

Then he placed a blue backpack containing $47,950 in the trunk and shut the lid, police said.

Leon was arrested as he got back in his vehicle with the fake cocaine, he said.

Elgin police said Leon is a deported felon who was wanted on two warrants. Police said he has used numerous aliases in the past and asked that he be held without bond since he has access to large amounts of money and posed a flight risk.

Kane County Judge Kevin Busch set Leon's bond at $10,000 with a July 18 court date at the Kane County Judicial Center.

However, Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed a hold on Leon and he was taken today to the Kane County Corrections Center.