A local police and federal investigation led to a business owner being charged with drug-induced homicide after prosecutors say she sold fentanyl that caused a Lake Forest man’s death.
The Lake Forest Police Department and Lake Forest Fire Department responded on July 15, 2023, to a residence for a report of a person who had possibly overdosed.
The victim, Adrian Kasperowicz, 35, of Lake Forest, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Savannah Halcomb said Kasperowicz’s parents discovered their son.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office determined Kasperowicz’s death was from fentanyl toxicity.
The Lake Forest Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted a “comprehensive investigation” and reviewed phone records, officials said.
They determined that Kasperowicz had arranged to purchase fentanyl from Mercedes Tello, 48, of Chicago, just before his death.
Halcomb said Facebook messages and text messages were discovered from July 13 between Kasperowicz and Tello.
The two later spoke on the phone, a conversation which Kasperowicz had recorded, and Kasperowicz was heard asking Tello for “six” in exchange for $150, Halcomb said.
Halcomb said Tello texted Kasperowicz later that evening that she was on the way and Kasperowicz told her she could just “toss it near the stop sign” and “do it in a bag.”
Tello also told Kasperowicz to “be careful because it is strong,” according to Halcomb.
Kasperowicz overdosed on July 14, 2023, and was transported to the hospital where he was treated and released later in the evening, one day before his fatal overdose.
Investigators also learned that Kasperowicz had an ongoing history of purchasing drugs from Tello, officials said.
Halcomb said Kasperowicz had sent payments through Zelle to Tello’s residential and commercial cleaning business, which is based in Chicago.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the case and approved one count of drug-induced homicide, a Class X felony, and an arrest warrant was issued earlier this month.
“Fentanyl, heroin, and other drugs are killing people in every community in Lake County,” Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said.
“We must compassionately provide treatment to those in need, innovatively engage in harm reduction to save lives, and investigate, arrest, and incarcerate those who cause the death of others by dealing these drugs,” Rinehart said.
Tello turned herself in on the warrant this week and appeared in First Appearance Court on Friday morning where the state’s attorney’s office filed a petition to detain her pending trial.
“This case reflects the hard work and persistence of our officers and partners at the DEA. We will continue to do everything we can to seek justice for victims and hold drug dealers accountable for the harm they cause,” Lake Forest Police Chief John Burke said.
A detention hearing was held on Friday afternoon and Tello’s attorney, Joseph R. Lopez, argued for his client to be released.
Lopez said his client had not shown to be a danger to the community for the past two years since the victim’s death. He also said Tello has a strong family support system and does not have a significant criminal history.
Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim denied the state’s petition to detain. He noted that approximately two years had already passed from the time of the victim’s death to the charges being filed against Tello.
Nerheim said that state law requires a defendant to pose a “real and present” threat in order to be held and he could not find that Tello currently meets that criteria.
The judge also said he believes Tello will appear at future court hearings and comply with conditions of release.
Tello was placed on Level 4 pre-trial services monitoring with a curfew. She was ordered not to consume illegal drugs or alcohol and be subject to random testing.
An obituary for Kasperowicz said he was “just starting a wonderful new chapter” in his life when he unexpectedly died.
“While his life started as a struggle, being the fighter that he was, he survived cancer at the age of 2. He had a wonderful heart and walked through life each day sharing that heart,” the obituary said.
Tello is scheduled to appear in court again on August 15 for a status of preliminary hearing.