McHenry County Sheriff's Office has reported the arrest of two individuals from Tucson, Arizona, who were caught with a significant quantity of fentanyl pills. According to the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, Gloria Gastelum, 54, and German Vargas, 22, were apprehended yesterday near Marengo after being found in possession of 120,000 fentanyl pills falsely marked as oxycodone.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force, acting on a tip from an undercover detective, was able to zone in on the suspects. They pulled over a rental car driven by the duo at the intersection of W Grant Highway and Ford Street, as reported by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office. Notwithstanding their age difference, Gloria Gastelum and German Vargas now face significant drug charges, reflecting the gravity of the opioid crisis that continues to ripple through communities large and small.
Each is facing charges for manufacturing and delivering 900 grams or more of fentanyl—a Class X felony, and for possession of 200 grams or more of fentanyl—a Class 1 felony. The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office clarified that these charges should not be viewed as conclusive evidence of guilt. "The charges against the above listed defendant are merely allegations against him. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court," as stated by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office.
