Ten face federal drug charges
SUN-TIMES MEDIA February 15, 2012 8:00PM
David Bopp / photo from Barrington police
Article Extras
Updated: March 17, 2012 10:19AM
BARRINGTON — Authorities have busted an alleged multi-state drug ring with the arrest of five members of a family in a drug trafficking and money laundering probe. Five others have been charged in the federal investigation.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s Milwaukee office was the lead agency in the case, but Barrington police carried out local search warrants and made the arrest of Mark Bopp, 53, of the 200 block of West Lincoln Avenue, Barrington. He is charged with drug conspiracy and conspiracy to launder drug trafficking proceeds.
At the same time, police arrested his three sons — Joshua Bopp, 32, of Hawaii; David Bopp, 25, of California; and Adam Bopp, 23, of Barrington, who was being held in the Cook County Jail on unrelated charges. Joshua Bopp’s wife, Stacy Kennedy, 29, was also arrested.
Adam Bopp is a registered child sex offender as a result of his 2011 conviction for criminal sexual abuse, authorities said.
David Bopp also was wanted by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Barrington police since 2005 for drug possession with intent to deliver, battery and mob action. He was arrested in California in 2011, but used his brother’s identity to avoid detection on the outstanding warrants and was released on bond, authorities said.
A federal grand jury indictment, which was unsealed Jan. 31, states the drug-related activities took place from 2006 until late September of last year.
In August 2011, DEA agents and Barrington police searched the Bopp home and seized records of properties and assets related to drug trafficking, authorities said. More than $710,000 in cash has been seized to date as part of the investigation, along with two vehicles, six properties in California, two properties in Barrington and one in Pleasant Prairie, Wis.
At one of the properties in Barrington, in the 200 block of Washington Street, police seized 16 pounds of marijuana and cannabis manufacturing/distribution equipment in April 2010 after learning of an indoor growing operation.
Also charged in the case were Renee Vega, 27, of Palatine; Gary Dohogne, 28, of Wheaton, Matthew Pettey, 33, of Kansas; Antonio Erol Lopez-Lopez, 28, of California; and David Goracio, 49, of Pleasant Prairie, Wis. Pettey has not yet been arrested and is considered a fugitive.
If convicted of the trafficking charge, each defendant would face between five and 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million and between four years and life of supervised release.
The money laundering charge would carry a maximum of 20 years in prison, up to $500,000 in fines, and up to three years of supervised release.
Barrington police and the DEA also worked with law enforcement agencies from Milwaukee, Kenosha, Des Plaines, Naperville and Lake County.
Comments Click here to view or make a comment