Villa Park Coffee Shop Owner Accused of Selling Meth to Undercover Cop

A judge released a Villa Park coffee shop owner on Friday after he was accused of selling methamphetamine to an undercover officer on three separate occasions.

DuPage County authorities say Peter Thomas, 35, has owned Pilot Pete's Coffee and Treats, a business located inside the Elmhurst Metra Station, for some time. The shop was listed as temporarily closed on Google on Friday. Prosecutors say Elmhurst police and the Chicago Police Department identified Thomas as a source of methamphetamine in the area.

The alleged transactions began at the end of August. On Aug. 31, an undercover officer contacted Thomas to arrange a purchase. The first sale took place on Sept. 1 at a business in the 100 block of West First Street in Elmhurst. The officer bought approximately 4.26 grams of methamphetamine for $40. Prosecutors did not confirm if the exchange happened inside the coffee shop, though it is on the same block.

Two additional sales occurred later in the fall. The officer bought about 3.27 grams from Thomas at his residence on Sept. 30. The final transaction happened on Oct. 28, when the officer purchased roughly 7.33 grams at the same home. After that sale, Thomas drove to the Elmhurst business. Officers took him into custody after he exited his vehicle.

During the arrest, officers found a bag with approximately 29.48 grams of methamphetamine in Thomas' pants pocket. He now faces three counts of delivery of methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to deliver, and two misdemeanors. The misdemeanors include resisting a police officer and unlawful possession of cannabis by a driver.

Thomas appeared in court Friday morning. The judge denied the state's request to hold him in jail before trial. He was released with specific conditions, including a ban on possessing or consuming alcohol, cannabis, or controlled substances unless prescribed by a doctor. He must also submit to testing.