United States Drug Enforcement Administration

WHEATON, Ill. - DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration Jack Riley, and Naperville Police Chief Robert Marshall announced today that felony drug conspiracy and sales charges have been filed against seven individuals as the result of a four-month-long investigation into an alleged drug ring operating out of a Naperville apartment complex. The charges are the result of a coordinated effort between the State’s Attorney’s Office, the Naperville Police Department, the DEA, (DuPage Metropolitan Enforcement Group), the Illinois State Police, and the FBI.
The following individuals, who are accused of dealing heroin, crack cocaine and cannabis, were taken into custody without incident yesterday morning and appeared in Bond Court this morning:

• Bernice Coleman, (d.o.b. 10/13/1960) 400 E. Bailey, Naperville
• Jerome Powell, (d.o.b. 12/5/1952)  400 E. Bailey, Naperville
• Tretepfone Pryor, (d.o.b. 10/30/1992) 400 E. Bailey, Naperville
• Kortney Martez, (d.o.b. 6/20/1982) 514 Kiowa, Naperville
• Antonio Ervin, (d.o.b. 4/6/1989) 1387 S. Glen Circle, Aurora
• Paris Miller, (d.o.b. 3/27/1995) 23504 W. Winston Avenue, Plainfield

Judge Elizabeth Sexton set bond for Coleman and Powell at $1 million with 10% to apply. They have each been charged with one count of Calculated Criminal Drug Conspiracy, a Class X Felony. Judge Sexton set bond for Pryor and Martez at $50,000 with 10% to apply. The two men have each been charged with one count of Delivery of Cannabis, a Class 3 Felony. Judge Sexton set bond at $300,000 with 10% to apply for Ervin and $200,000 with 10% to apply for Miller. They have each been charged with one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver, a non-probationable Class 1 Felony. Each of the aforementioned defendant’s next court appearance is scheduled for July 29, 2014. Another defendant, Mack Jones, (d.o.b. 4/22/1958) 1426 S. 10th Avenue, Maywood, has been charged with one count of Calculated Criminal Drug Conspiracy, a Class X Felony. He is expected to appear in Bond Court in the near future.

“While we have made progress in our fight against heroin and other dangerous street drugs, the charges against these defendants confirms that we still have more work to do” Berlin said. “With this in mind, I would like to stress that this investigation continues and I anticipate the filing of further charges before we conclude. I would like to thank all of the agencies involved for their hard work and cooperation not only on this case, but for their ongoing efforts in ridding our streets of dangerous narcotics. I would also like to thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Audrey Anderson and Jennifer Lindt for their work in preparing strong cases against the defendants.

“As I have said previously, heroin is not just an inner-city problem. It’s here in Naperville and it’s in your community too. Our top priority is dismantling these drug trafficking organizations, who peddle their poison in our communities,” said SAC Riley. “But we can’t do it alone. We need parents, teachers, coaches and faith based practitioners to get involved and do their part too.”

"These successful efforts directed at persons in the drug distribution business involved the cooperation of many law enforcement agencies and have resulted in Naperville being a safer community today," added Chief Marshall.

Members of the public are reminded that these complaints contain only charges and are not proof of the defendants’ guilt.  The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.