An NIU student and his roommate were arrested Friday by the DeKalb County North Central Narcotics Task Force and charged with dealing drugs.

NIU senior Kevin W. Thomas, 22, and Rodney B. Douglas, 22, 1019 W. Hillcrest Drive, Apt. 10, were arrested by undercover task force agents after a search of their apartment produced eight grams of cocaine and assorted drug paraphernalia, police said.

Thomas was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance and Douglas was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

Douglas might face from four to 15 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000, police said. Thomas might receive from one to three years in prison and a fine up to $15,000, police said.

NIU Judicial Office Director Larry Bolles said local officials probably will handle Thomas’s case unless he had been selling the drugs on campus.

A task force official declined to comment on where the two were selling the drugs or how they were apprehended.

The task force also arrested William R. King, 20, 521 E. Taylor St., Apt. 4, on Feb. 9 and charged him with unlawful possession with intent to deliver about 30 grams, or about one ounce, of cannabis.

If found guilty, King might get between one and three years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000, task force officials said.

All three have been released from the DeKalb County Jail, prison officials said. King and Douglas had to pay bond, and Williams was released on his own recognizance, officials said.

King is scheduled to appear in court today. Douglas will appear March 8, but no date has been set for Williams, said a DeKalb County Circuit Clerk’s office official.

NIU, DeKalb, Genoa, Sycamore and Illinois State police departments and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office comprise the task force.