EVANSTON — Three Evanston locals were arrested on Feb. 6 and charged with felony drug crimes. Another man was arrested and charged in late February with unrelated drug offenses.
Jeramie Makinen, 38, and Holly Bence, 33, were charged with three counts of manufacturing and/or delivery of narcotics — one count each for methamphetamine, fentanyl and heroin.
Bence was also charged with one misdemeanor count of misrepresentation of assistance and services by allegedly trading supplemental nutrition benefits to acquire illicit drugs. If convicted of that charge, she faces up to six months in jail and/or a $750 fine.
Lori Revelli Norton, 39, was charged with two counts of manufacturing and/or delivery of narcotics, including one count each for meth and fentanyl.
Court documents indicate Makinen, Bence and Norton were allegedly connected to two individuals — Tycee Conroy, 37, and Jay Cummings, 39 — for conspiring to distribute controlled substances.
Conroy and Cummings were arrested on suspicion of drug distribution in Summit County, Utah, in May 2023. Norton’s vehicle had allegedly been used by Conroy to smuggle controlled substances into the state of Wyoming.
Local officers were aware that “Bence was a known drug user and seller of controlled substances,” according to the affidavit. Further surveillance, showing Makinen and Bence meeting with Conroy, indicated that “Conroy was a source of supply for Bence...for the purpose of providing her with a quantity of fentanyl,” court documents state.
Over a period of several months, according to charging documents, Makinen, Bence and Norton were provided with fentanyl pills. “Makinen would be provided with the most pills because not only was he using them, but he was also selling them to others,” reads the affidavit; however, Makinen would, in turn, provide Conroy and Cummings with methamphetamine.
During the course of the investigation, an extensive examination of text and Facebook messages uncovered that Bence was also allegedly exchanging her government-issued food stamps as payment to Conroy and Cummings for drugs.
If convicted, each count of manufacturing and/or delivery of narcotics carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison and/or a $25,000 fine. Makinen and Bence face up to 60 years and/or up to $75,000 in fines. Norton faces up to 40 years and/or $50,000 in penalties.
In other drug-related news, on Feb. 22, Richard Tierno, 52, of Evanston, was arrested and charged with one count of conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance, and one count of felony possession of a controlled substance — in particular, fentanyl.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) was conducting an investigation of Tierno for allegedly transporting narcotics through the mail.
According to court documents, he admitted to receiving fentanyl pills from Arizona. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison, and/or up a $25,000 fine.
