Elgin man stands trial in Addison heroin case
Prosecutors Tuesday began outlining their case against one of four men charged in a large suburban drug bust last summer that authorities say netted $700,000 worth of pure heroin.
Jose Hernandez, 28, of the 10 block of Lynch Street in Elgin, is standing trial charged with unlawful manufacture or delivery of more than 7 kilograms of heroin, which carries a sentence of between 15 and 60 years in prison.
Hernandez is charged along with his father, Luis Hernandez, 48, of the 200 block of Comstock Drive, Elgin, and his brother, Andres Hernandez, 25, also of the 10 block of Lynch Street.
A fourth man, Orlando Pacheco-Ramos, 28, of the 400 block of Stevens Road, Addison, also is charged with unlawful manufacture or delivery of more than 7 kilograms of heroin and traffic offenses.
Assistant State's Attorney Kevin Laude said in his opening statement during Hernandez's bench trial that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations received a tip on July 23, 2014, related to an out-of-state currency seizure in Arkansas. The next day, agents and police officers put Jose and Andres Hernandez's Elgin residence under surveillance.
Laude said the very next day the four men were being watched as they conducted a drug transaction in Addison and the truck Pacheco-Ramos was driving was pulled over for the traffic violation. The heroin, which was stuffed in a black duffle-type bag, was recovered during the stop. Laude said.
"This is a case about accountability," Laude told Judge John Kinsella, outlining a scenario in which Jose Hernandez was described as a sort of lookout who ran "heater runs" to determine if the dealers were being followed.
Jose Hernandez's attorney, Richard Dvorak, said prosecutors have no proof showing Jose Hernandez is accountable for the drug transaction.
"This is a case about inferences as they stack inference upon inference and try to infer (Hernandez's) guilt," Dvorak said.
The bench trial resumes at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Luis Hernandez already has pleaded guilty in the case and is serving a six-year prison sentence. Andres Hernandez, who is being held on $1 million bail, is scheduled to be in court Wednesday. Pacheco-Ramos is being held on $700,000 bail and his next court date is May 19.