The Law Offices of Kathleen Colton, Ltd.
Criminal Defense / P.O. Box 1364 / St. Charles, IL 60174
Auroran found not guilty in 2011 drug sweep
By Matt Hanley
mhanley@stmedianetwork.com
Last Modified: Sep 30, 2012 03:02AM
A jury took a little more than four hours to acquit one of the men charged in a 2011 drug sweep at a series of Aurora taverns.
In August 2011, police and federal agents arrested 13 people and charged five more with participating in drug deals at local bars in a bust dubbed “Operation Summer Snow.” All of the people charged allegedly sold cocaine, marijuana or ecstasy to undercover investigators at the End Zone Bar at 1650 N. Farnsworth Ave.; Joe’s Cantina at 112 E. Galena Blvd.; or Club Gala at 210 E. Galena, police said.
Police seized more than 330 grams of cocaine, 22 grams of marijuana, more than 2 grams of ecstasy and two vehicles. The drugs had an estimated street value of about $34,000.
On Tuesday, a Kane County jury found Luis Campos, 39, of Kenmore Avenue in Aurora, not guilty of delivery of a controlled substance.
Campos was arrested in the sting at Joe’s Cantina. According his attorney, Kathleen Colton, Campos admitted he was at the bar, but vehemently denied selling drugs to undercover officers. Although officers identified Campos in court, Colton said the jury may have been convinced by the lack of physical evidence.
Since the arrests, at least 11 Operation Summer Snow cases have been resolved, mostly by guilty pleas.
According to Kane County court records: Amber Alvarez, 33, of Farnsworth Avenue, Aurora, was sentenced to eight years in prison; Joseph Moore, 27, of Oak Avenue, Aurora, was sentenced to 4-1/2 years in prison; Arturo Rios, 26, of Forrest Avenue, Aurora, was sentenced to four years in prison; and Tiburcio Becerra, 36, of North Union Street, was sentenced to three years in prison.
Four other Aurora residents were sentenced to probation, according to court records: Oscar Tovar, 28, of North Rathbone Avenue; Jesus Garcia, 28, of Oakview Avenue; Armando Valerio Rios, 44, of Galena Boulevard; and Roberto Dieppa, 26, of Prairie Street.
Charges are still pending against five Aurorans: Juan Jimenez, 32, of Front Street; Juan Leon, 24, of Woodlawn Avenue; Jose Resendiz, 31, of Sixth Avenue; Reyna Cruz, 31, of Hinman Street; Gilda Ruales, 25, of Solfisburg Avenue; and Rosario Hernandez, 37, of Gates Street. Charges also are pending against Emigdio Bustos, 34, of Joliet.
Charges against Victor Garcia, 36, of Fifth Avenue, were dropped, according to court records. No information was available about charges filed against another defendant, Jose Romero-Maravilla, 28, of South River Street.
The operation was spearheaded by the Aurora police and the Illinois State Police North Central Narcotics Task Force, and included the ATF, FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Kane County state’s attorneys office.
