What happened to Easy E?
GHS grad busted in Chicago-area raid
A Graham man is in an Illinois jail on $1 million bond as a suspected drug manufacturer. Eric Oliver, 23, was arrested last Friday at a Bensenville, Ill., residence where Dupage County Sheriff’s Office narcotics deputies eliminated a methamphetamine “finishing” operation. Oliver lived at the home located in a suburb 20 miles northwest of Chicago with another suspect and the home’s owner, Lawrence Schoenbeck, 60.
At the time of his arrest, the older suspect was on probation for running a meth lab. That was one reason, explained DCSO narcotics division Sgt. Al Angus, the home was under close scrutiny in conjunction with a Crime Stoppers’ tip.
After securing a search warrant, the residence was raided by a combined multi-jurisdictional tactical narcotics unit composed of DCSO deputies and a Illinois State Police Methamphetamine Response Team. Officers entered the house around 2:30 p.m. and found a chemical operation that “finishes” or converts powered methamphetamine into the street-popular crystal meth. They seized more than 200 grams of the suspected narcotic with a street value of around $400,000. They also recovered drug paraphernalia, a 2003 vehicle and an undisclosed amount of cash.
Both suspects were charged with a Class X felony for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia. Oliver remains in the DuPage County Jail and is scheduled to appear at a hearing Friday, Feb. 25, in the DuPage County Courthouse in Wheaton, Ill.
Oliver moved to Graham from Henrietta prior to his junior year in Graham High School. In a short time, he impressed his teachers and classmates with his scholastic and musical talents. He was noted for his ability to play several musical instruments and possessed a photographic memory. He also successfully participated in several University Interscholastic League marching band competitions including the tough 5A competition.
“I was shocked,” said Graham High School band teacher Dax Freeman. “Eric is the last person I’d ever believe would do something like that.”
Graduating in the top 10 percent of his 2002 GHS class, Oliver earned a music scholarship to prestigious Vanderbilt University in Nashville.
However, he left Tennessee and matriculated to DePaul University in Chicago until he dropped out a little more than a year before his arrest.
