Sheriff Busts 2 Steger Teens on Gun and Drug Charges

Two Steger teens face felony charges after a Cook County Sheriff’s Police investigation found them in possession of four firearms and significant amounts of ammunition, Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced Tuesday.

At about 3 p.m. on Monday, members of the Sheriff’s Gun Suppression Team prepared to execute a search warrant at the 3300 block of Hopkins in Steger. As a car pulled into the home, officers recognized the two suspects and stopped the vehicle, where they found Eric Oestmann, 18, in possession of a Glock .40 caliber handgun. Oestmann was joined at the time by a 16-year-old juvenile who was also the subject of the search warrant.

Inside the house, officers found three additional firearms – a Taurus .357 handgun, Mossberg .22 caliber rifle and Kel Tec 9mm handgun. All four weapons were found loaded with the serial numbers defaced. They were spread around the home, with officers locating firearms behind a bed, behind a dresser and locked in a safe along with cannabis. None of the home’s residents – including the two defendants – possessed valid FOID cards.

In addition to the four guns, officers confiscated 64 rounds of ammunition, eight pills of Tramadol, one bottle of Promethazine with Codeine, 18.7 grams of Cannabis and drug paraphernalia.

Oestmann has been charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and possession of a defaced firearm. His bail was set at $20,000 at the Markham Courthouse, with his next court appearance scheduled for March 18.

The 16-year-old remains in custody at the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center.