U.S. INDICTMENT CHARGES 10 MEN IN COCAINE DELIVERY CONSPIRACY

A drug operation with ties to Mexico conspired to deliver more than 2
tons of cocaine in the Chicago area in the first six months of 1998,
according to two indictments brought Thursday in federal court here.

The indictments charged 10 men in the conspiracy and seek a combined
$28.5 million in illicit proceeds, including a West Side produce
company where authorities allegedly found cocaine hidden in a shipment
of carrots.

Six of the defendants were arrested in May when federal agents seized
more than 1 1/2 tons of cocaine and an additional $6.1 million in one
of the area's largest seizures ever of cash and narcotics.

A drug distribution organization based in Donna, Texas, and Mexico
allegedly used 18-wheelers to deliver cocaine to Chicago.

The indictment charged that Jose Luis Ortiz, 34, of Bartlett stored
large quantities of cocaine at Ortiz Produce Co., 2021 W. 18th St.,
which Ortiz operated.

Co-defendants Jesse Quintanilla, 30, and Steven Webber, 29, both
formerly of Chicago, and Hector Lopez, 23, whose whereabouts are
unknown, delivered the cocaine in pickup trucks to customers in the
Chicago area, authorities said.

The investigation was headed by the Drug Enforcement
Administration.

Also charged were Desi Cano, 46, of Wood Dale; Jorge O'Conner, 31, of
Chicago; Juan Manuel Perez, 39, of Cicero; Guillermo Carrera and
Eduardo Ruiz, whose ages and whereabouts are unknown; and an
individual known only as Jamie.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry