Police: Gun runners traded guns for snake, bicycle

Two men have been charged with multiple felonies in connection with a gun running scheme after they allegedly stole at least 29 guns from a home in west suburban River Grove.

Jorge Figueroa, 19, of Melrose Park, and Ricardo Martinez, 20, of Elmwood Park, were each ordered held on $450,000 bond Wednesday at the Leighton Criminal courthouse, according to a statement from the Cook County Sheriff’s office.

Figueroa was arrested back in October 2013 in Melrose Park for drug paraphernalia possession and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, police said. Investigators later learned the weapon he used was part of proceeds from a burglary at a River Grove House, police said. The burglary was not initially reported because the owner was in the hospital.

From Oct. 26, 2013 to Nov. 13, 2013, officers tracked down and recovered 29 firearms that were originally taken from the River Grove home. The weapons were recovered at various locations, from Addison to the city’s North Side, according to the statement.

Some of the weapons were traded instead of sold. One firearm was traded for a snake and another was traded for a bicycle, police said.

Both Figueroa and Martinez were arrested Tuesday in connection with the gun running, police said.

Figueroa was charged with one count of gun running; six counts of unlawful sale of a firearm; and six counts of illegal transfer of a firearm, all felonies, the statement said.

Martinez was charged with one count of gun running, four counts of unlawful sale of a firearm and four counts of illegal transfer of a firearm, according to the statement.