Cook County men charged with gunrunning in DuPage

Two Cook County men are being held in DuPage County on $250,000 bail, accused by Attorney General Kwame Raoul of dealing in stolen guns.

Reynaldo Gomez, 34, of Maywood, and Jose Ibarra, 33, of Elmwood Park, each are charged in DuPage with a single count of gunrunning and unlawful sale of firearms, which is punishable by six to 30 years in prison if convicted.

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives initiated an investigation after discovering Gomez, who is currently on parole for an unrelated conviction, and Ibarra were selling stolen guns in DuPage and Cook.

Officials allege that between Jan. 24 and March 15, the men sold guns that were traced back to residential burglaries. The ATF recovered nine guns, five of which were reported stolen. The DuPage Metropolitan Enforcement Group, and the Norridge and Bensenville police departments assisted with the investigation.

"These stolen guns were recovered before they were involved in violent crimes through our partnership with the ATF," Raoul said in a written statement. "Reducing gun violence in communities throughout Illinois requires a comprehensive approach that includes tracing stolen and trafficked guns."

Gomez is next due in court on April 3 in courtroom 4010. Ibarra is scheduled to be arraigned on April 30, also in courtroom 4010.