Updated: DeLuca's Pizza Owners Face Drug Charges

The owners of Buffalo Grove’s were among a group of people charged in connection with a major narcotics trafficking operation, Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez announced today (Dec. 9).

Maria Garza, 37, and Carmelo Rios, 35, both of Arlington Heights, were among six people arrested and accused of importing heroin and other drugs into Cook County following a joint investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Narcotics Prosecution Bureau, Alvarez said in a press release.

They face drug conspiracy charges following the joint, six-month undercover investigation. The other defendants include Victor Zaragoza, 55, of Chicago; Jorge Alberto-Gonzalez, 30, of Chicago; Alexander Colon-Ortiz, 37, of Philadelphia; and Fredy Arroyo-Ortuna, 32, of Placentia, Calif.

Warrants have been issued for the arrests of two other people.

According to prosecutors, Rios and Garza were identified by investigators as the importers of kilogram quantities of heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana. The couple is alleged to have arranged for shipments of heroin originating from Mexican sources of supply to be transported to the Chicago area for distribution both locally and to buyers on the East Coast for subsequent distribution there.

During the course of the investigation, DEA agents recovered approximately 7.5 kilograms of heroin, 1 kilogram of methamphetamine and 5.1 pounds of marijuana, all with an estimated street value of $900,000. Surveillance conducted during the operation captured the defendants arranging the delivery, sale and transportation of the narcotics to their customers.

Search warrants were executed Dec. 8 at the home of Rios and Garza as well as at DeLuca’s Pizzeria, which . When Buffalo Grove Patch met with them in October, Rios identified himself as "David."

"We only know him as Carmelo, we can't say why he told you his name is David," State's Attorney spokesman Andy Conklin wrote in an email to Patch today.

All of the defendants have been charged with criminal drug conspiracy and are facing 15 to 60 years in prison if convicted. Garza, Alberto-Gonzalez, and Zaragoza appeared today at the Cook County Criminal Courts Building in Chicago. Bond was set at $1 million for Garza, $850,000 for Zaragoza and $700,000 for Alberto-Gonzalez.

Rios and Colon-Ortiz have been in custody since Nov. 21, when investigators learned they would be making a delivery of heroin and marijuana and stopped their vehicle. Arroyo-Ortuna is in custody in California pending his extradition to Chicago.

All the defendants except Arroyo-Ortuna and Zaragoza are expected to appear for preliminary hearings on Dec. 12.

Alvarez thanked the DEA for the agency’s ongoing cooperation and work in this case.

“This is an excellent example of an effective joint law enforcement investigation that will have a direct impact on the street sale and distribution of narcotics in Chicago and suburban communities,” Alvarez said. “We will continue to target and aggressively prosecute the organized sale and distribution of illegal narcotics throughout Cook County.” 

“Two of the individuals charged in this investigation with drug conspiracy attempted to legitimize themselves as business owners to cover up the alleged distribution of devastating illegal drugs. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office has been an invaluable partner in attacking drug trafficking organizations that have ties to foreign sources of supply and operate within our neighborhoods,” said Jack Riley, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

DeLuca's remained open for business Dec. 9.