Island Lake man convicted of drug offense in his absence

By Tony Gordon

Daily Herald Legal Affairs Writer

Posted August 01, 2003

A Lake County jury convicted an Island Lake man Thursday of selling a pound of cocaine to undercover police officers nearly three years ago. However, Besnick Saliu, 33, was not around to hear the bad news because he failed to return to court after the first day of testimony in his trial Wednesday.

Circuit Judge James Booras issued an arrest warrant calling for Saliu to be held without bond. The prosecutor in the case fears Saliu may try to flee the country, if he has not already done so. Assistant State's Attorney Matthew Hoffman said Saliu is fluent in six languages and vacationed in Macedonia a little more than two weeks ago.

The cocaine case against Saliu has been pending since his Nov. 8, 2000, arrest. Hoffman said he believes Saliu panicked when he realized there would be no more continuances of the trial.

"He was sitting in the chair, evidence was being presented and the fingers were being pointed at him," Hoffman said. "I believe the fantasy world he had been living in broke apart, and he finally figured out he was going to be held accountable for what he did."

Waukegan defense attorney Lou Pissios said he had no idea where his client was and declined to comment further.

Saliu and two other men were selling a pound of cocaine for $14,500 in a parking lot at routes 12 and 22 when their customers revealed themselves to be agents of the Lake County Metropolitan Enforcement Group.

Saliu, whose last known address was 3324 Greenwich Lane in Island Lake, was at the time the owner of the Island Cafe at 310 E. State St. Ricardo Sanchez, 22, an employee of the cafe, and Rene Gonzalez, 22, who lived with Sanchez in Wauconda, accompanied Saliu to the meeting where the cocaine was to be sold.

After meeting with the undercover agents, Saliu opened the glove box of his 1992 Ford Taurus and handed agents the brick of cocaine. All three were arrested, and agents later found an additional 4¨ ounces of cocaine at the restaurant.

Gonzalez pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine Feb. 23, 2001. She was sentenced to six months in jail and two years on probation.

Sanchez, who drove Saliu's car to the drug sale, was sentenced to 10 years in prison June 4, 2002.

Saliu faces up to 40 years in prison after his conviction Thursday. His sentencing is set for Sept. 12.

Hoffman said he is working with the FBI to set up a world-wide dragnet for Saliu.