Fifth arrest in drug deal gone bad

A fifth person has been charged in connection with an Aurora drug deal gone bad that resulted in a Chicago man being shot to death Oct. 1.

Jorge Diaz, 20, of the 1900 block of West Division Street, was arrested Friday after leaving a Melrose Park residence. Diaz, who had luggage with him at the time of his arrest, was believed to be en route to board a bus to Mexico, police said. Diaz was arrested without incident and charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver in connection with the death of Hector Valtierrez, 28, of Chicago, on the 600 block of North Root Street, police said.

Esteban Rodriguez, 41, of the 18W200 block of Knollwood Lane, Villa Park, was arrested last week and charged with criminal drug conspiracy, armed violence and unlawful possession of a controlled substance in connection with the incident, police said.

Detectives said they believe Rodriguez arranged a cocaine transaction between Valtierrez and Juan R. Herrera, 28, of Prescott, Wis., at the Aurora residence. When Valtierrez tried to make off with more than 5 kilograms of cocaine without paying, he and Herrera engaged in a gunfight and both were shot, authorities said. Valtierrez was killed. Authorities said Herrera was shot in the groin and shoulder before flagging down a passing driver who took him to Provena Mercy Center Hospital where he was located by police.

Diaz was one of three people who attempted to rob those who were selling the cocaine and that he was armed with a handgun and fired shots during the course of the robbery, police said Tuesday. Investigators say that after the shooting, Rodriguez, who was in the house at the time of the drug deal, fled to a hotel in downstate Chillicothe, where he was arrested last Wednesday.

Herrera was charged with first-degree murder, armed violence and unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

Ernesto Acosta, 42, who lived at the Root Street address, was charged with unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver.

Maria Valtierrez, 27, of the 4100 block of South Rockwell, Chicago, and the wife of Hector Valtierrez, was charged with armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and calculated criminal drug conspiracy.

Rodriguez is being held in Kane County on $2.5 million bond.

Diaz is being held in Kane County on $3 million bond.