Naperville Police have slapped cuffs on a Chicago man for allegedly peddling cocaine in the suburb. Pierre Prescott, 28, was nabbed on May 1 in the 5600 block of Abbey Drive, Lisle, concluding a three-month probe into the drug trade in Naperville.

Investigators, following leads that pointed to Prescott, charged him with a hat trick of felonies including two Class X felonies and one Class 1 felony for Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance. Conducting the investigation, officials did not disclose the methods used to pinpoint Prescott as a suspect.

The charges against Prescott are nothing to sneeze at, with Illinois law considering Class X felonies among the most serious offenses, short of first-degree murder. If convicted, Prescott could be staring down the barrel of a lengthy prison stint.

Casting a spotlight on the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, the Naperville Police issued a reminder through an announcement on their website: "a charge is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty." The sting operation, which netted the Chicagoan, is part of a larger effort by local law enforcement to clamp down on drug-related activities in the area.

Prescott hails from the 8200 block of South Winchester Avenue in Chicago, a detail disclosed by the Naperville Police but one that doesn't enlighten us as to his guilt or innocence. The authorities have played their cards close to the vest, withholding additional details about the arrest pending court proceedings. It's now up to the courts to shuffle through the evidence and determine whether Prescott will be dealt a prison sentence or walk free.