Thread: Mom had 6 yr old hold coke

Mom had 6-year-old hold coke

By Brian Stanley
Staff Writer

JOLIET — Police say they arrested two women using a six-year-old boy to deliver narcotics during an undercover buy Wednesday.

The arrests were the culmination of a six-month investigation by the Joliet Police Department's Narcotics Unit.

Officers made an undercover buy at a parking lot in the 700 block of West Jefferson Street.

Police say the boy brought a 12.5 ounce bag of cocaine to undercover officers during the buy. He was accompanied by a friend of his mother.

"The aspect of this that's quite troubling is how they used a six-year-old boy to facilitate these deals," said Joliet Police Chief Fred Hayes.

Officers seized approximately $35,000 worth of cocaine and one pound of cannabis with an estimated value of $1,500 during the arrest.

Maria Cardenas-Barragan, 26, of 116 Mississippi Ave. and the boy's mother, Rosa Martinez, 40, of 320 Pine Ave.
, were arrested and charged with manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance, use of a minor to deliver a controlled substance and endangering the life and health of a child.

Martinez was also charged with an additional count of manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance and manufacture or delivery of cannabis stemming from the investigation, according to the Will County State's Attorney's office.

Following the arrests in the parking lot, officers executed a search warrant at Martinez's residence and recovered another 65 grams of cocaine and 454 grams of cannabis.

Hayes called the investigation "extremely well-conducted" and added, "the State's Attorney's Office was a big assist to our officers throughout the investigation."

The boy has been placed into the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services.


- Reporter Brian Stanley can be reached at (815) 729-6079 or bstanley@scn1.com

07/28/06

I wonder if they bothered to check their immigration status?

I wonder if they bothered to check their immigration status?

Here? Seriously doubt it. This is Illinois and they don't do that.

Nothing like getting your kid started in the family business young.

Good family values we keep hearing about