Man accused in courthouse bomb threat now charged in conspiracy

A Palatine man's legal woes continue to climb.

Weeks after Marc J. Mueller was accused of making a false bomb threat at the DuPage County courthouse, and trying to bribe a deputy to ignore it, he is facing new felony drug charges.

Prosecutors this week accused the 30-year-old Palatine man in a grand jury indictment of being the ringleader of a drug-trafficking operation in Cook and DuPage counties. About one half dozen other defendants also were swept up in the undercover drug sting involving local, county and federal agents.

Mueller is being held in the DuPage County jail on a $650,000 bond. He is due in court Monday for arraignment.

In the latest allegation, Mueller is facing multiple drug charges, including possessing and trying to deliver marijuana. The alleged operation occurred from Sept. 1, 2007 through March 19. He also faces armed violence charges as authorities say he carried a gun during the alleged drug sales.

Prosecutor Paul Marchese said the defendants were selling marijuana and Ecstasy.

Mueller's legal troubles began June 12 when he was arrested in Downers Grove. Police said Mueller had 59 pills of the powerful painkiller, Vicodin, which contains hydrocodone, a controlled substance, on him during a traffic stop on the village's west side.

Mueller showed up for court July 17 but he ran into more trouble on his way through security.

Prosecutors said Mueller became belligerent while waiting in line just inside the courthouse annex and, after a deputy instructed him to remove his belt, he remarked he had a "belt bomb."

He was charged with disorderly conduct. He also faced bribery charges on suspicion he told deputies they could keep all the cash he had on him as a tip if they let him go.

A DuPage County grand jury indicted him Thursday on the drug allegations, according to court records released Friday.