DEA: Drug suspect sends mom to pick up heroin at pancake house

Authorities allege that a drug suspect running late for a rap concert sent his mother in a silver minivan to pick up 10 kilos of heroin from a North Side pancake house.

Jesus "Pepe" Fuentes, 37, was charged this week in federal court with his mother, Ester Carrera, 59, and their alleged heroin supplier, Pedro Salas, 21. Fuentes and his mother are from Gary while Salas is from Belvidere, Ill., and Salem, Ore.
Fuentes had just flown into Chicago on April 7 and set up a meeting to pick up 10 "buffets" at a parking garage at a hotel just off the Magnificent Mile, according to the charges. Time was of the essence, Fuentes told his contacts. And he was sending "the missus" — his mom — to make sure the deal got done.
"I have a big event with that Scarface and everybody partying," the Drug Enforcement Administration quoted Fuentes as saying in a recorded call.
At about 5 p.m., Fuentes, his mom and a Salas deputy met inside the parking garage and Fuentes learned the worker hadn't brought any heroin, thinking he was supposed to pick up cash instead. The parties agreed that Fuentes' mother would pick up the heroin at an International House of Pancakes in Lakeview, near a Salas stash house.
After the pickup, Fuentes' mother was pulled over near the Drake Hotel for not using a turn signal. Agents seized the heroin.