Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced charges against a suburban man in the drug-induced homicide of a Lake Barrington man. Joshua Burks, 20, of Lake Barrington, Illinois, died after overdosing on fentanyl that was allegedly sold by Luke G. Napolitano, 20, of Barrington, Illinois.
The Attorney General’s office charged Napolitano with one count of drug-induced homicide, a Class X felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison, and one count of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, a Class 2 felony punishable by up to seven years in prison. Napolitano is currently being held in the Cook County Jail on unrelated drug charges.
“Fentanyl-laced drugs are incredibly dangerous and continue to wreak havoc in communities across our country,” Raoul said. “I am absolutely committed to holding individuals accountable for distributing fentanyl-laced drugs, and I appreciate the hard work of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office in investigating this case.”
Attorney General Raoul’s office alleges that in December of 2022, Napolitano sold Burks drugs laced with fentanyl that caused his death. During their investigation, officials with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office determined Napolitano was also selling drugs in Cook and DuPage counties.
On June 9, a statewide grand jury issued an indictment against Napolitano, and Lee County Judge Matthew Klahn issued an arrest warrant for Napolitano and set his bond at $1 million.
“Drug traffickers, like this man, prey on those who are vulnerable and struggling with addiction. There is no place in our society for drug pushers who profit from other’s struggles,” said Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg. I am grateful for the work of our staff and their collaboration with colleagues from across the region. It is our hope that these charges begin to bring closure to the victim’s family.”
The public is reminded that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Assistant Attorney General Andrew Whitfield is prosecuting the case for Raoul’s Statewide Grand Jury Bureau.
