Chicago drug dealer charged in overdose death of Batavia man

A Chicago drug dealer has been charged with supplying fentanyl-laced heroin to a Batavia man that caused his overdose death in May 2018.

Alejandro Junco, 28, of Chicago, has been charged with drug induced homicide, a felony. He is being held in the Kane County Jail on a $750,000 bond. His next court date is set for Aug. 2.

At 5:15 p.m. May 23, 2018, Batavia police officers were dispatched to the 600 block of Evergreen Drive for a call for an unconscious and unresponsive subject, according to a news release from the Kane County Sheriff's Office. Upon their arrival, they found the victim, later identified as Daniel P. Mate, dead from an apparent drug overdose, the release stated.

Signs of recent drug use were found on the scene in close proximity to Mate, according to the release. A subsequent Kane County Coroner's report indicated an immediate cause of death was from fentanyl-laced heroin, the release stated.

Interviews were conducted with family and Mate's girlfriend. It was learned that a female friend of Mate was with him the morning of his overdose, according to the release.

The female was interviewed by investigators and it was learned that earlier in the day on May 23, she agreed to drive the victim to the south side of Chicago and provide him money for the sole purpose of purchasing heroin, the release stated. The female stated that she was present with the victim at the time of the narcotics transaction and only knew the heroin dealer as "Ollie" or "Alejandro."

Evidence collected through the course of the investigation positively identified Junco as the individual who had delivered heroin/fentanyl to Mate that caused his death after he ingested the drugs, according to the release. Investigators later interviewed Junco and he admitted to providing heroin to the victim on multiple occasions in the past, the release stated.

He also stated in the interview he was aware that the heroin he was providing also contained fentanyl, according to the release. The investigation was conducted by the Kane County Heroin Task Force, including investigators from the Kane County Sheriff’s Office and the Batavia, Geneva, South Elgin and Chicago police departments and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Last year, Junco was one of more than 25 individuals charged in an investigation lead by the Chicago Police Department for allegedly selling pure fentanyl or fentanyl-laced heroin in Chicago. Several federal agencies also were involved in the investigation.

In the release, Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain and Batavia Police Chief Dan Eul commended investigators for their collaboration and thorough investigation to bring this case to a close.

Hain reiterated that Kane County residents have many options to avoid drug addiction now, including the county’s A Way Out Program to link those in need with addiction support.

"Along with job training and employment connections for those struggling to find a job, we are creating a community where no one needs to turn to crime for income," Hain said in the release.

More information about the programs is available by calling 630-232-8400, text AWAYOUT to 847411, or go to KaneSheriff.com.