Illinois police uncover ring that sold cocaine from Burger King

MUNDELEIN, Ill. -- Customers at a suburban Chicago Burger King could order some coke with their Whoppers and fries, authorities say.

Members of a drug ring working at the restaurant stashed various quantities of cocaine in plastic bags near milk, condiments and coffee creamers in a small refrigerator in the drive-through window area, according to Mundelein police and the anti-drug Lake County Metropolitan Enforcement Group.

Customers would either phone before they came to pick up their orders or ask that particular employees serve them, police said. Upon arrival, customers would then request drugs over the eatery's drive-though microphone, pull around to the window and receive their cocaine in a Burger King paper bag, authorities said.

Mundelein police chief Raymond Rose said the operation attracted drug users and perhaps drug dealers from throughout the Chicago area and that police witnessed "hundreds" of drive-through deals.

"It was obviously going on every day," he said.

Members of the alleged drug ring were arrested after an undercover officer bought, in the restaurant's parking lot, one kilo of cocaine with a street value of about $300,000, police said.

Arrested Friday night on criminal drug conspiracy charges were the restaurant's night manager, Fabian Guzman, 21; his wife, Niesha Molina, 24; his brother, Raul Guzman, 20; and Ricardo Sanchez, 36.

Police said Raul Guzman and Sanchez worked at the restaurant until they were fired several months ago.

On Saturday a Lake County judge ordered each of the Mundelein residents held on $750,000 bond.

The arrests came after police had the restaurant under surveillance for more than nine months, authorities said.

People would purchase anywhere from a gram to more than an ounce at the drive-thru window, Mundelein Sgt. Nick Poulos said. Friday night's sale to police, authorities said, took place in the parking lot.

Criminal drug conspiracy is a felony that carries a sentence of 12 to 60 years in prison. The four also are charged with delivery and possession of a controlled substance.

Authorities say an investigation continues into whether other employees knew about the drug dealing.