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4 men busted on drug charges in Elgin
By Harry Hitzeman | Daily Herald Staff

Published: 4/12/2009 12:01 AM



Police and federal immigration officials arrested four people in Elgin on Friday on charges of selling a half-kilo of cocaine and half-ounce of crack to undercover officers.

Sgt. Dan O'Shea of the Elgin department's Gang Crimes Unit said the four were "mid-level" dealers and that's what drew the attention of police and ICE.

Police made their first undercover buy in February, another in March before Friday's early afternoon buy of 560 grams of cocaine and 14 grams of crack - a combined street value of at least $21,000 - in a hotel parking lot.

"It started with these guys because we knew they weren't street dealers. They were above street level, so we targeted them with the help of ICE," O'Shea said.

The following have been charged with unlawful possession and delivery of a controlled substance:

Fernando Ruiz, 37, and Magali Ayala-Cortez, 29, both of the 2200 block of Pennview Lane, Schaumburg; Jesus Medina-Martinez, 24, of the 2500 block of West 45th Street, Cicero; and Manuel DeJesus Montoya-Martinez, 24, of the 4900 block of West 32nd Street, Cicero.

The most serious charge carries a minimum of 12 years in prison and a maximum of 50.

O'Shea said ICE would determine each of the men's' immigration status.

"No matter what the (court) outcome is they'll be detained by ICE and have a hearing on whether they'll be deported. That falls under ICE's purview."

After the arrest in Elgin, police searched Ruiz's apartment in Schaumburg and found small amount of .22-caliber handgun ammunition and some marijuana, O'Shea said.

Authorities also seized Ruiz' 2002 Chevy Impala and $1,500.

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