Prosecutors seek forfeiture of 2 vehicles seized in undercover drug investigation

Prosecutors are seeking forfeiture of two vehicles in connection with an undercover drug investigation that led to the arrest of a Joliet man in July.

On Tuesday, Will County prosecutor Dant Foulk filed a complaint for forfeiture of a Mercury Mountaineer and Chrysler 300 that were seized in the investigation that resulted in the arrest of Anthony Covington, 36.

Covington was jailed July 22 and charged with delivery of methamphetamine, methamphetamine possession with intent to delivery, delivery of a controlled substance and controlled substance possession.

On May 25, an undercover Joliet police officer met with Covington at a gas station to purchase eight purple and pink pills of suspected MDMA, also known as ecstasy, for $45, Foulk’s complaint said.

MDMA is a mood-altering drug and much of it seized by police contains cocaine, ketamine, methamphetamine, cough medicine or synthetic cathinones, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s website.

The undercover officer went to the same gas station again on May 28 to buy 50 pills of suspected MDMA from Covington for $175, Foulk said.

On June 8 and July 21, the undercover officer met with Covington again to purchase more pills, Foulk said. After the officer met with Covington on July 21, Joliet tactical police officers arrived and arrested Covington.

Officers searched Covington and recovered substances that field-tested positive for the presence of MDMA and cocaine, Foulk said.

Covington arrived to the undercover drug buys in either a Mercury Mountaineer and Chrysler 300, Foulk said. He argued both vehicles are subject to forfeiture because they were used or intended to be used to violate drug laws.

Two women from Ottawa filed a verified claim for the two vehicles, court records show. The women alleged in their claims they were “not involved in or had knowledge of any criminal activities.

Both women said they “do not have a lot of money and worked very hard” to purchase their vehicles.

A judge has not yet ruled on Foulk’s complaint. The forfeiture hearing is slated for Dec. 8.

Covington was indicted on charges that accused him of possessing methamphetamine on May 28, June 8, and July 21. He was also charged with possessing a substance called eutylone on May 25 and May 28, and cocaine on July 21.

In 2014, Covington was charged with delivering of benzylpiperazine, a synthetic stimulant that produces euphoria and cardiovascular effects, court records show.

In the same year, Covington was charged with delivery of benzylpiperazine. He entered a blind plea of guilty to both charges, court records show.