A 25-year-old Aurora man faces felony charges for delivery of “thousands of dollars worth of cocaine” in LaSalle and Kane counties, authorities announced today (Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018).

According to news releases from the Kane County Sheriff’s Office and the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Narcotics Team, Derek Aquino Jr. of Aurora is being held at the Kane County Adult Justice Center on $95,000 bond for drug charges he faces in Kane County and $2 million in bond for the Class X felony charges he faces in LaSalle County.

Derek Aquino Jr.

The charges stem from a four-month narcotics investigation conducted by TRIDENT, the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Department and the Kane County Sheriff’s Office.

Charges were approved by the LaSalle County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office.

According to the Kane County Sheriff’s Office news release, law enforcers conducted a search on Feb. 3 at Aquino’s residence, 938 Garfield Ave. in Aurora. During the search, deputies located about 14 grams of suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of $1,400.

Aquino Jr. was not present at the time of the search warrant but was taken into custody later that day.

At that time, the Kane County States Attorney’s Office authorized the following charges against Aquino:

• Manufacture/Delivery of a controlled substance, a Class 1 felony.
• Possession of a Controlled Substance, a Class 1 felony.

On Feb. 5, deputies secured additional charges against Aquino. Authorities say Aquino delivered about 27 grams of suspected cocaine in October and about 55 grams of suspected cocaine in February. The Kane County States Attorney’s Office authorized the following charges in relation to these transactions:

• Two counts of Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance, both Class X felonies.

Also on Feb. 5, detectives from the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Narcotics Team — a multi-jurisdictional team from LaSalle, Bureau and Putnam counties — announced additional charges against Aquino:

• Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance, a Class X felony.

His LaSalle County warrant carries a bond of $2 million.

Aquino’s next court appearance is set for 9 a.m. Feb. 22, in Courtroom 305 of the Kane County Judicial Center.

The charges against Aquino are not proof of guilt. He is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

SOURCE: TRIDENT and Kane County Sheriff’s Office news releases