Suburban men plead not guilty to drug charges

Four men arrested in April as part of a Northwest suburban drug sweep targeting a dial-up cocaine distribution service pleaded not guilty to the charges today in a Rolling Meadows courtroom.

Authorities named Ector Cortez, of the 2800 block of Algonquin Road in Rolling Meadows, as the ringleader of the organization they dubbed Dial-a-Rock and which they say handled about 100 cocaine transactions a day for as many as 10 years. Cortez, 40, pleaded not guilty to charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession with intent to deliver and criminal drug conspiracy. He remains in Cook County Jail on $1 million bail. He must post the full amount to be released.

Also pleading not guilty to charges of criminal drug conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver were: Julio Zenteno, 30, of the 1700 block of Palm in Mount Prospect, Adrian Peregrino-Garcia, 21, of the 1700 block of Poplar in Schaumburg, and Carlos Ruiz, 20, of the 2100 block of Tonne Road in Arlington Heights.

Bail was set at $1 million for Zenteno and Peregrino-Garcia. Bail was set at $750,000 for Ruiz, whom authorities described as a runner in the organization. The men must post 10 percent to be released.

The Arlington Heights Police Department headed up the sweep with assistance from the Chicago office of the Drug Enforcement Administration. Police from Des Plaines, Elk Grove Village, Mount Prospect, Rolling Meadows and Schaumburg assisted.

The defendants next appear in court on July 13.