Police Arrest Last Wanted Fugitive in Multi-Agency Investigation
The lone fugitive still wanted in connection with a long term investigation conducted by the Aurora Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Kane County State’s Attorney into allegations of drug dealing and firearms sales involving an Aurora street gang was taken into custody Thursday afternoon.
Leonel A. Martinez. CREDIT: Aurora Police Department
Leonel A. Martinez, 29, of the 1200 block of Grove St., Aurora, was arrested around 4:30 p.m. Sept. 15 during a traffic stop on a vehicle in which he was a passenger at Prairie and Home Avenues in Warrenville. He was taken into custody without incident by Aurora police officers and FBI agents on eight counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and two counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school.
Authorities gathered intelligence that indicated Martinez had been staying at a home in the 2S200 block of Blackthorn Lane in Unincorporated DuPage County. They setup surveillance on the home and stopped the vehicle after seeing him enter it.
Martinez was the 16th man charged in “Operation Tri-Lambs”, a nearly three-year investigation into the Latin Kings street gang that utilized undercover, controlled narcotics and weapons purchases and involved confidential informants, all of whom were also members of the Latin Kings.
A total of 96 felony charges were filed against the men. Thirty-two of the charges were classified as “Class-X” felonies which call for enhanced penalties upon conviction. The investigation was conducted under the umbrella of the U.S. Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.
During the investigation, 13 firearms and approximately 22 ounces of cocaine were seized. The majority of the investigation’s targets have documented criminal histories involving narcotics, weapons, and other alleged violent offenses.
Martinez is being held in lieu of $250,000 bail and is expected to be transferred to the Kane County Correctional Center in St. Charles later today.
The charges are not proof of guilt. They are all presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
SOURCE: Aurora Police Department
