Court Sentences Fourth Man in Cocaine Drug Ring to 16 Years in Prison

A Bolingbrook man who was part of a drug ring and busted with three kilos of cocaine in a Glen Ellyn restaurant in July 2011 was sentenced Monday to 16 years in prison.

Alfredo Garcia, 36, of Bolingbrook, was found guilty in August of one count of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. The Super X Felonies were punishable by 15-60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Garcia was the fourth to be sentenced from the seven-member group suspected to be involved in the drug ring, according to DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin.

Last year's arrests were the result of a month-long investigation led by the DuPage Metropolitan Enforcement Group with the assistance of the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, Berlin said. Garcia was found guilty for his role in the drug bust that resulted in the seizure of four kilos of cocaine with a street value of $120,000.

 at La Playa Cantina. Law enforcement officials obtained information over the course of the month-long investigation that led to the raid at the restaurant. When law enforcement officials entered the restaurant owned by Venustiano Calderon, one of Garcia’s co-defendants, authorities discovered three kilos of cocaine. An additional kilo of cocaine was delivered to an undercover officer.

 “When combatting drug dealers, cooperation between law enforcement agencies is essential,” Berlin said in a news release. “My office will continue to work with DuMEG and other law enforcement agencies to disrupt and hopefully dismantle these drug rings. I would like to thank DuMEG as well as the Glen Ellyn, Addison and Lombard Police Departments for their outstanding police work in this case. I would also like to thank Assistant State’s Attorney Audrey Anderson for her continued efforts in ridding the streets of illegal narcotics.”

Two of the co-defendants, Marciano Diaz and Luz Vidal, both of Chicago, entered a plea of guilty and were sentenced, Berlin’s office said. Diaz was sentenced to 300 day and deported, while Vidal was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Oscar Colin of Cicero was sentenced to nine years in prison. The other co-defendants, whose cases are still pending, include Luis Sanchez of Chicago, Venustiano Calderon of Lombard and Salma Sanchez-Hernandez of Cicero.

Garcia will be required to serve 75 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

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