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2 Plead Guilty in City Drug Ring: Ex-Water Department Worker Accepts Deal

Posted on: Thursday, 15 December 2005, 12:00 CST

By Michael Higgins, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune

Dec. 15--Two men, including a former city employee, pleaded guilty Wednesday to participating in a heroin trafficking ring that prosecutors say operated out of the city's Department of Water Management.

Former city worker Anthony Palello, 46, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking, admitting he accepted a delivery of heroin at work in March and then tried to sell the drugs to an FBI informant. Vito Renteria, 44, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin. Renteria delivered the heroin to Palello in March and also acted as a drug courier on seven other occasions between March and May.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Michael Gurland said Wednesday in federal court that he expected more guilty pleas in the 10-defendant case over the next few weeks.

"I think this case is going to continue to shrink," Gurland told U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber.

Federal authorities broke up the ring in June when they arrested suspects, including veteran water department employee George A. Prado. Authorities described the operation as a Chicago distribution cell of a Colombian heroin-trafficking ring. They said Prado headed the organization while making $30 an hour in his city job.

Two other city employees, Prado's brother-in-law, Anthony Ritacco, and Michael Hart, also were charged in June with heroin trafficking. The drug deals often took place during weekday hours when they were supposed to be at work for the city, authorities said.

In pleading guilty on Wednesday, Palello and Renteria agreed to cooperate with federal investigators. In return, prosecutors agreed to recommend an 18- 1/2 month sentence for Palello, who could have received between 37 and 46 months under federal guidelines.

Prosecutors agreed to recommend a 6-year sentence for Renteria, who has a prior criminal record and could have faced a minimum sentence of 10 years.

Leinenweber is set to sentence Palello on April 5. No sentencing date has been set for Renteria.

Federal authorities used wiretaps to build their case against Prado. Prosecutors allege that Prado was captured on one wiretap threatening to kidnap and possibly kill a courier who had about two pounds of heroin confiscated by police after a traffic stop.

In his plea agreement, Palello said that Prado helped supply him with heroin on March 10, telling him in a phone call "that the drugs were a minute away and that he [Palello] should look for a truck, possibly a blue Avalanche."

Renteria, who was driving a blue Chevy Avalanche, then arrived at the Water Management Department's North District Yard on Wabansia Avenue, the plea agreement said. Renteria gave about 100 grams of heroin to Palello, according to the plea agreement.

In Renteria's plea agreement, he admitting participating in eight drug deals, all of which he said were directed by Prado. In several deals, Renteria said he met with Hart or co-defendant Alexander Millan.

Renteria said he also took about 100 grams of heroin to Palello on April 28. Gurland said in court that Palello was cooperating with authorities at that time.

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Copyright (c) 2005, Chicago Tribune

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Source: Chicago Tribune

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