By Charlotte Eriksen

Officials earlier this week charged 11 men — including one from Geneva and four from West Chicago — with bringing heroin to the western suburbs, DuPage County Sheriff John Zaruba announced Thursday.

Miguel Fernandez, 23, of West Chicago, was arrested Feb. 26 after an investigation conducted by members of the sheriff's offices' Tactical Narcotics Team, the Sheriff’s SR-22 Unit, West Chicago Police Department, Woodridge Police Department, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security alleged he was delivering heroin to people in the area, including to a minor near school property, according to a news release from the sheriff's office. 

Fernandez is charged with unlawful criminal drug conspiracy, a Class X felony, seven counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, a Class 1 felony, two counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of school property, a Class X Felony, and unlawful delivery of a controlled substance to a person younger than 18. 

The other men charged after the initial investigation include:

• Ivan Espinal, 20, of West Chicago, is charged with unlawful criminal drug conspiracy and unlawful delivery of a controlled substance.
• Fernando Lopez, 20, of Geneva, is charged with unlawful criminal drug conspiracy and unlawful delivery of a controlled substance.
• Miguel Ramirez, 24, of Warrenville, is was charged with unlawful criminal drug conspiracy and two counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance.
• Pablo Ramirez, 19, of Warrenville, is charged with unlawful criminal drug conspiracy and two counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance.
• Jesus Guerrero, 20, of West Chicago, is charged with unlawful criminal drug conspiracy and unlawful delivery of a controlled substance.
• Pierre Atkinson, 25, and Billy Turnage, of Chicago, were each charged with unlawful criminal drug conspiracy.

A subsequent investigation resulted in five additional charges for the following men:

• Manuel Gonzalez, 20, of West Chicago, is charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver, a Class 1 felony.
• Jonathan Guerrero, 20, of Naperville, is charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony.
• Oscar Vivaldo-Avila, 24, of Warrenville, is charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

Officials said Fernandez, Espinal, Pablo Ramirez, Miguel Ramirez, Guerrero, Vivaldo-Avila, Atkinson, and Turnage all are affiliated with gangs.

Guerrero posted 10 percent bond on his $60,000 bail. Atkinson and Turnage remain at DuPage County Jail on $300,000 bail and the rest of the men remain at the jail on $100,000 bail.

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