Peru gun suspect indicted on a new drug charge

A La Salle County grand jury convened Tuesday and returned a new drug charge against a Peru man already facing multiple felonies.

Mariano Verucchi, 20, of 2428 Fifth St., upper apartment was indicted on one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl), a Class 4 felony carrying 1-3 years in prison. Prosecutors allege he possessed less than 15 grams on Feb. 26.

Verucchi remains held on $1 million while negotiating with prosecutors in La Salle and Kane counties, where he faces numerous felonies including unlawful possession of a firearm in connection with a non-fatal shooting in November 2019 at a Peru motel.

Also indicted Tuesday were: Andrew Erschen, 23, of Oglesby (aggravated battery); Adrian Huynh, 22, of Ottawa (unlawful delivery of a controlled substance); Tiffany Daniels, 39, of Streator (unlawful possession of methamphetamine); Tamburlyn Sadnick, 22, of Peru (unlawful possession of methamphetamine); Steven Hochstatter, 37, homeless (aggravated battery; criminal damage to government property); Brian Northrup, 25, of La Salle (two counts of unlawful use of a weapon; unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon); Caprice Simpson, 31, ofChicago (two counts of obstruction of justice); Kentrail Strickland, 30, of Moline (unlawful possession of methamphetamine); Jackson Shannon, 23, of Morris (unlawful possession of a controlled substance); Ashley Negray, 28, of Streator (residential burglary); Ashley Negray, 28, of Streator (residential burglary); Lashawn Walton, 37, of Streator (two counts of driving while suspended); Calvin States, 27, homeless (aggravated battery; resisting a peace officer); Damien Kwit, 19, of Ottawa (mob action; aggravated battery); Kyle Prince, 20, of Ottawa (mob action; aggravated battery); Dorian James, 44, of Chicago (driving while revoked; obstructing justice); Heather Delara, 46, of Ottawa (unlawful possession of a controlled substance); Jessica Elliott, 35, of Olney (unlawful possession of a controlled substance); Zachary Sprowls, 20, of Mendota (two counts of unlawful failure to register); Daniel Boege, 49, of Mendota (unlawful possession of a firearm without a FOID); Tiara Gaines, 28, of Peru (aggravated battery).