Man On Parole 6 Weeks For Drug-Induced Homicide Caught Selling Drugs: Prosecutor

WORTH, IL—A man paroled just six weeks ago for drug-induced homicide is now accused of selling crack cocaine and suboxone to a confidential police informant in Worth. Wasim Rashan, 35, appeared Thursday before Cook County Judge Linzey Jones on felony charges of manufacture and delivery.

Rashan was living in Burr Ridge when he was charged and convicted in the January 2019 overdose death of a 23-year-old Hinsdale woman. Authorities said the woman was found dead in her bedroom of a heroin-fentanyl mixture supplied to her by Rashan.

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Around 7 p.m. Monday, the prosecutor said that a confidential informant told Worth police he was meeting Rashan at the Stone Creek Inn at 106th Street and Harlem Avenue. The confidential informant is said to have identified Rashan.

Officers swooped in and arrested Rashan on suspicion of selling drugs. Worth police are alleged to have found 10 individual baggies of crack/cocaine weighing 20.75 grams in Rahan’s motel room. . Also found was suspected suboxone, the prosecutor said.

“We can’t even think of how many people he could harm,” the assistant state’s attorney said. “Especially after he’s been convicted of selling drugs.”

There was some discussion before court whether Rashan wanted to delay the detention hearing for a few days until he could hire an attorney, but he opted to be represented by an attorney from the public defender’s office.

His attorney said he lived at home with his family and worked part-time at the Harlem Medical Center in Bridgeview. She said Rashan was not selling drugs when he was taken into custody.

“We don’t have successful sellers without willing buyers,” the assistant public defender told the judge. “It was a non-violent offense. The SAFE-T Act exists for cases like this.”

“If nobody is selling drugs, nobody can use them,” the prosecutor countered.

The assistant public defender asked the judge to consider a GPS tracker with limited movement and other pre-trial conditions.

Judge Jones said Rashan was released on parole in April, and less than six weeks away from the Illinois Department of Corrections for drug-induced homicide.

“Despite his conviction, he continues to sell drugs. This is how he earns a living; that is dangerous,” Judge Jones said. “The defendant's behavior poses a very serious risk to the community. Based on the court’s analysis, especially since he just got out.”

Rashan mouthed to his mother in the courtroom to find a lawyer. He is due back in court July 21 in Bridgeview.