One of B.Rick's boys.
COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — Hours after winning a leadership award from an international meeting and event industry association, a Chicago professional and her male companion were busted on drug charges at the Hard Rock Hotel.
Jill Kaplan, 33, and Leo Perez, 37, were celebrating at the Hard Rock Hotel on Michigan Avenue Monday night when police showed up. Kaplan, an executive at AnswersMedia, had been honored earlier in the evening with the "Tomorrow's Leader" award at a gala hosted by MPIChicago, according to Kaplan's Twitter page.
She stood in court in an evening gown Tuesday alongside her co-defendant — who was still donning a well-pressed black suit — facing drug charges.
Barry Sheppard, a Chicago attorney representing both of them, said after the brief court hearing that his clients maintain they are innocent of the charges.
According to prosecutors and court documents, police went to the home of both Kaplan and Perez in the 800 block of West Superior Street with a warrant Monday night.
Officers forced their way inside and found a variety of drugs stashed in the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom, as well as a small amount of cocaine in Kaplan's purse, according to court records. Police also recovered drug-packaging materials, cash, a loaded Glock .22-caliber handgun and a box of bullets.
Prosecutors said Monday that the search recovered more than 100 grams of cocaine, about 160 grams of oxycodone and smaller amounts of liquid steroid and marijuana.
Drugs were found in a gold bag containing 13 glass vials of "white powder," according to court records. Police also recovered vials of morphine and a "green leafy substance," records show.
After searching the residence, police learned that Perez and Kaplan were at the Hard Rock Hotel, 230 N. Michigan Ave., according to court records. The two were arrested at that address shortly before midnight.
Perez, who was the subject of the search warrant, is charged with manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance, four counts of possession and a gun charge. Kaplan was charged with possession of a controlled substance.
Perez's attorney said during the bond hearing that Perez is a business owner and graduate of Purdue University. At Purdue, Perez played football, started at defensive tackle as a senior, and was well known at the school for a key blocked field goal in an eventual 22-21 victory over Michigan State in 1997.
According to Perez's Twitter page, he is an "Alamo Bowl Champion" and technology consultant at @ITSOLUTIONS.
On Tuesday, Cook County Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. set Perez's bond at $50,000 and Kaplan's bond at $10,000.
