Court denies pre-trial release for Aurora man accused in firearms and drug case
A DuPage County judge has granted the state's motion to deny pre-trial release for Dionte Neustadter, a 46-year-old convicted felon from Aurora. Neustadter faces several felony charges, including possession of multiple firearms—one modified as a machine gun—and nearly 775 grams of cocaine.
According to DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Naperville Chief of Police Jason Arres, the decision was made last week by Judge Joshua Dieden following Neustadter's appearance in court. The charges include one count of Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance – Cocaine Between 400-900 Grams (Class X Felony), one count of Aggravated Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle (Class 1 Felony), one count of Possession of a Machine Gun (Class 2 Felony), eight counts of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon (Class 3 Felony), and one count of Misdemeanor Fleeing and Eluding a Police Officer.
The investigation began in early January when Naperville detectives were alerted about a possibly stolen 2024 Ford F150 Raptor with Tennessee plates seen in Naperville. On January 15, officers observed the vehicle at a gas station on N. Aurora Road. When they attempted to stop it after an alleged traffic violation, the driver fled at high speed. Authorities later identified Neustadter as the suspected driver.
On February 24, police arrested Neustadter outside his vehicle on East Ogden Avenue. At that time, he allegedly had about 21 grams of cocaine in his possession. A search warrant executed at his home led to the discovery of items including a stolen Ford Raptor key fob; several loaded firearms—among them, pistols and an AR-15 rifle ghost gun; $47,120 in cash; and approximately 753 grams more cocaine.
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin stated: “The arrest of the defendant in this case is a testament to the professional, vigilant work of the Naperville Police Department. After receiving information regarding a possibly stolen Ford F150 Raptor, officers kept an eye out and one week later located the vehicle. This heads-up work not only led to the recovery of the allegedly stolen vehicle, but also resulted in the removal of multiple illegally owned firearms, including a machine gun, and nearly 775 grams of cocaine from our streets. Their efforts also led to charges against Mr. Neustadter, a convicted felon who, by law, is not allowed to legally possess a firearm. I sincerely thank the Naperville Police Department for their efforts on this case and their continued efforts in keeping our neighborhoods safe as well as Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Paup for his efforts in securing charges against Mr. Neustadter.”
Naperville Chief Jason Arres added: “What started out as an investigation into a possible stolen vehicle rapidly expanded in scope and complexity, but our investigators didn’t miss a beat. They processed an extraordinary amount of evidence and information and put together a solid case against a convicted felon allegedly in possession of not only the stolen vehicle but also eight firearms and large amounts of illegal drugs. I’m grateful for their efforts on behalf of our community and thankful to State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and his staff for their support.”
Neustadter's next court date is set for March 23 before Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh.
Officials reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
DuPage County schools continue to report trends such as an average student-to-teacher ratio of 13-to-1 during the most recent school year with over 142,000 students enrolled across county schools (https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Home.aspx). Teacher absenteeism rates reached more than 38%, above Illinois’ average (https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Home.aspx). York Community High School recorded the highest number of white students enrolled among county schools during this period (https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Home.aspx). Metea Valley High School saw top enrollment figures among multiracial students while Addison Trail High School reported leading Hispanic student enrollment numbers locally (https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Home.aspx).