Store Owners Busted For Codeine Pills In Candy Jar

Updated: 10/18/10 1:49 p.m.

CHICAGO (STMW) - A west suburban man and a Chicago woman were charged with drug possession after authorities allegedly found about 1,500 prescription painkillers on sale for $5 each at a corner store on the West Side.

Iaad Hamad, 36, of the 1200 block of South Wisconsin in Berwyn; and Alma Price, 55, of the 1800 block of South Kildare in Chicago are charged with one count each of felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, police said. Both were also charged for not having a valid FOID card after a revolver was found in the store.

On Saturday, bond was set at $30,000 for Hamad, while Price was ordered held on $10,000, Cook County State's Attorney's office spokesman Andy Conklin said. Both will appear for a preliminary hearing Nov. 2.

They were arrested when a revenue agent on routine check to ensure cigarettes were being sold properly stopped at the H&Y Food Store at 3825 W. Chicago Ave. about 1:30 p.m. Friday, according to police.

The agent spotted -- "in plain view of the public'' -- a large candy jar behind the counter filled with about 1,500 hydrocodone pills, police said. The pills were being sold for $5 each.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)