Joliet Murder Defendant Dealt Cocaine, Joined 2-6 Gang

JOLIET, IL — The 41-year-old Joliet man arrested by the Joliet Police Department last week on first-degree murder charges has a long criminal history involving drug dealing and weapons offenses, records at the new Will County Courthouse show. Now, Jorge Rosas is back in the Will County Jail and his bail is set at $6 million.

Joliet police charged Rosas in connection with the Oct. 26 deadly shooting of 25-year-old Omar Perez-Garcia. The young man from Romeoville was killed inside his car that was parked in the 100 block of Seeser Street, in the St. Patrick's Neighborhood Area.

The shooting happened around midnight.

A former El Paso, Texas resident, Rosas has lived in Joliet the past several years, according to Will County criminal court files.

In 2014, Rosas was sentenced by Will County Judge Ed Burmila to six years in prison after Rosas pleaded guilty to the Class X felony drug charge of possession of controlled substances with intent to deliver. At the time of sentencing, Rosas was given credit for spending about a week in custody. He was arrested for the crime on Dec. 27, 2012.

Rosas lived in the 300 block of South Park Road in Joliet at the time of his cocaine dealing arrest.

At the time of last week's arrest on first-degree murder charges, Rosas resided in the 100 block of Baker Avenue.

Back in December 2012, southwest of his Joliet home, police recovered 275 grams of cocaine, a loaded .38 gun "which he admits he traded coke for and uses for protection with dealing drugs," the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow notified the judge in 2014.

As for Rosas' habits, associates and reputation, prosecutors wanted the sentencing judge to know that Rosas, as of 2014, was a 2-6 gang member.

At the time of his 2012 arrest, Rosas was also charged with possession of a stolen gun, a Colt revolver, court records indicate.

Original Joliet Patch story: Recent Murder In Joliet Solved: Police