Chicago Man Charged With 14 Felonies After Evanston Drug Investigation

Evanston police say an investigation by the department’s Special Operations Group developed information that Ernest W. Pentek was suspected of selling narcotics in Evanston and Chicago. Investigators also gathered information suggesting he possessed firearms and possibly hazardous fire-starting devices, according to police. Pentek, 48, lives in Chicago.

Officers searched his residence near 6900 North Ashland Avenue on October 30, with support from Evanston’s Special Response Team and the Cook County Sheriff’s Police Bomb Squad. Chicago police also assisted, according to the department. Pentek was arrested during the operation without incident.

Police said they seized four firearms, an airsoft rifle and more than 500 grams of suspected methamphetamine. They also reported finding 7.1 grams of heroin believed to be illicit, 11 grams of Xanax believed to be illicit, 4 grams of suspected crack cocaine, 39 pills believed to contain MDMA and about 2.6 pounds of suspected cannabis. Other items included a substance believed to be GHB, ballistic protective equipment, several suspected homemade incendiary devices and $1,185.

Pentek faces four counts of possessing a firearm as a felon and one count involving an allegedly unlawfully possessed short-barreled shotgun. The remaining charges include methamphetamine possession and possession with intent to deliver, four counts of controlled-substance possession, controlled-substance possession with intent to deliver, and cannabis possession and possession with intent to deliver.

Pentek was due to make his first court appearance in Chicago on October 31.