DRIVE-UP DRUG DEALS OUTLINED

Intercom Orders Taken, Cops Say

As part of a drive-through drug operation at a Mundelein Burger King,
orders for cocaine were taken over the intercom and the drug was
handed out in the restaurant's brown paper bags, police said Monday.

The system ran smoothly for at least nine months but ended Friday when
the restaurant's night manager and three other people--all from
Mundelein--were arrested and charged with criminal drug conspiracy and
delivery of cocaine.

"They'd put the narcotics into a Burger King bag and place it in a
refrigerator that was right next to the drive-through window," said
Mundelein Police Sgt. Nick Poulos. "Considering the fact that we were
able to purchase large amounts, we believe that there was quite a
business. The volume of patrons there was quite high."

Police are investigating whether other employees were involved,
according to Poulos, who said it's likely the cocaine was weighed and
bagged in the restaurant, at 721 S. Midlothian Rd.

Police pushed to get the investigation wrapped up quickly because they
were concerned that food might get contaminated with cocaine, which is
a stimulant.

"They were obviously handling cocaine and then possibly handling food
that would go to innocent people," Poulos said. "While the miniscule
amount of that would probably not harm anyone who's healthy, someone
with heart complications could possible be harmed by even a small
amount of cocaine."

Poulos gave the following account of the investigation and
arrests:

Police began monitoring the restaurant nine months ago after receiving
several anonymous tips.

An undercover officer eventually gained the trust of night manager
Fabian Guzman, 21, and began using the drive-through to buy cocaine.

The officer would pull up to the drive-through microphone, ask to
speak with Guzman and then tell him how much cocaine he wanted, with
orders ranging from half a gram to an ounce. Occasionally the officer
called ahead and told Guzman he would be coming by and what size
purchase he would make.

In the final phase of the sting, the officer arranged to buy a
kilogram of cocaine for $25,000. Because of the money involved, the
sale occurred in the parking lot rather than at the drive-up window.

Police arrested Guzman; his wife, Niesha Molina, 24; his younger
brother, Raul Guzman, 20; and Ricardo Sanchez, 36.

Molina also worked at the restaurant. The younger Guzman and Sanchez
had worked there but were fired several months ago for unrelated reasons.

The restaurant is near two day-care centers, and investigators said
Monday they are seeking an indictment on charges of delivering a
controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a child-care facility.

All four suspects were being held Monday in Lake County Jail in lieu
of $750,000 bail each.

"This was pretty bold, and by our estimation they couldn't have been
doing this without the help of people who were on their shift, because
they would have had to have known what was going on," Poulos said.

Rob Doughty, a spokesman at Burger King's headquarters in Miami, said
the owner of the Mundelein restaurant, Sheldon Friedman, was returning
early from an out-of-state vacation and had told police he will
cooperate fully in the investigation.

"Obviously we're very concerned about this and we'll very closely
monitor the situation," Doughty said. "At this point we have no reason
to believe that there has been a pattern of mismanagement. This is
just a very unfortunate situation, and we're very concerned."

The Burger King was closed after the arrests and decontaminated. It
was open Monday, but lunch-hour business appeared to be slow.

"They've certainly lost my business," said Angela Fleming, director of
one of the day-care centers. "My husband used to take the kids there
after he picked them up. We won't be doing that anymore."