Five charged in Aurora gun, drug investigations

Five people are facing charges in connection with separate Aurora drug and gun investigations this month, officials say.

Police arrested three people Sept. 8 after officers found crack cocaine, Xanax and drug paraphernalia at an apartment in the 200 block of East Galena Boulevard, according to a post on the Aurora Police Department's Facebook Tuesday evening.

A resident of the apartment, Roosevelt Williams, 59, is charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, and a single count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, according to the post. Unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver is a class X felony, Williams could face an enhanced prison sentence if convicted, police said. Williams remained at the Kane County jail Tuesday on a $215,000 bond.

Two of the eight people in the apartment when police arrived also face charges, police said. Huk O. Banwell, 46, of the 600 block of West Downer Place, and Tisha Garrison, 37, of the 600 block of Fifth Street, Peru, each face single counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, according to the post.

About three hours later, police searched a home on the 800 block of Jackson Street, where they found a handgun and ammunition, police said. Priscilla G. Ortiz, 30, is charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and an unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon. Her bond is set at $40,000. Police have not ruled out additional charges.

A separate investigation Thursday also led to charges when officials intercepted a package from the Netherlands, containing 100 hits of ecstasy, according to the post.

Police delivered the package to the 2700 block of Preston Court and waited for someone to claim it. The homeowner, Jennifer R. Parks, 52, put the package in her car and began to leave, police said. Parks is charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. Her bond is set at $10,000.

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