CHICAGO — Forty-two defendants are facing state or federal
narcotics charges for their alleged roles in supplying and distributing heroin
in the area of West Grenshaw Street and Independence Boulevard, in the North
Lawndale neighborhood on the city’s west side.
An investigation led by officers of the Chicago Police Department and
agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration assigned to the High Intensity Drug
Trafficking Area (“HIDTA”) Task Force, resulted in federal charges against 16
defendants and state charges against 26 others, who police and federal agents
began arresting early this morning.
Twelve firearms, approximately $50,000, nearly a half-kilogram
of heroin, and over one-half kilogram of cocaine were seized this morning
during the arrests of 32 of the charged defendants. The remaining defendants are either in
custody or at large. Additionally, over
one and a half kilograms of heroin were seized during the course of the
investigation from last August through this month. Early today, Chicago police, DEA agents, and
other HIDTA law enforcement partners also executed seven search warrants upon
several defendants’ residences and three alleged stash houses, and seized two
vehicles, including one defendant’s 2014 Maserati, Gran Turismo.
The federal defendants were charged with conspiracy,
distribution, or possession with intent to distribute narcotics in five
separate criminal complaints that were filed yesterday in U.S. District Court
and unsealed following the arrests. The
federal defendants are scheduled to begin appearing at 3 p.m. today before U.S.
Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez in U.S. District Court. The 26 state defendants face charges ranging
from Class 1 to Class X Delivery of a Controlled Substance and face a potential
sentencing range of four to 30 years in prison upon conviction. The state defendants are expected to appear
in bond court this afternoon at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building in
Chicago.
According to a 230-page affidavit in support of the federal
arrests and search warrants, the investigation revealed that JAMES TRIPLETT,
also known as “Trell,” 33, of Berkley, controlled the distribution of heroin in
the area of the 3700 block of West Grenshaw Street, in the North Lawndale
neighborhood west of Douglas Park.
Triplett allegedly assigned responsibility for heroin distribution on
the block he controlled to specific individuals, who further delegated
distribution to shift workers who sold heroin throughout the day.
Triplett obtained his heroin largely from supplier, LEVAUGHN
COLLINS, also known as “Sweet Bobby,” 34, of Chicago, who along with his
narcotics associates, obtained wholesale quantities of heroin which they mixed
and packaged for distribution to buyers like Triplett who then subsequently
sold the heroin on the street in the area of the 3700 block of West Grenshaw
Street.
The area is just south of the Interstate 290 Eisenhower
Expressway corridor that has been referred to as the “Heroin Highway” because
of the accessibility it provides to city and suburban heroin customers.
“The Chicago HIDTA is a powerful collaboration of local,
state, and federal law enforcement which concentrates its efforts on both
narcotics suppliers and street-level distributors,” said Zachary T. Fardon,
United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. “This investigation and arrests associated
with this open air drug market demonstrate how effective teamwork by law
enforcement agencies can significantly reduce the flow of narcotics into our
communities,” he said.
“This operation demonstrates how police and prosecutors are
continuing to work together to dig in at the local level and hammer away at the
drug markets plaguing our local communities,” said Cook County State’s Attorney
Anita Alvarez. “Once again, we are pleased to join our state and federal law
enforcement partners in these ongoing and coordinated efforts.”
“Investigating, charging and arresting heroin dealers is
priority number one," said SAC Wichern.
"Too many lives in Chicagoland are forever lost due to heroin
use. I'm proud of the work done by these
agents, officers and prosecutors, who worked tirelessly to achieve these
results and I’m confident that with our continued partnership, we will have
increasing success."
“IRS Criminal
Investigation was an integral part of today’s law enforcement events by
investigating the financial aspects of these investigations,” added Special
Agent-in-Charge Boyd from IRS/CID.
The complaint affidavit alleges that Triplett was a
wholesale supplier of heroin who, through his drug trafficking organization,
ran the heroin trade in the area of the 3700 block of West Grenshaw
Street. The complaint further alleges
that Triplett tasked his narcotics associates with different responsibilities
ranging from picking up and transporting the packaged heroin for subsequent
distribution, to running the daily operations of the Grenshaw drug spot, to
collecting proceeds from heroin sales there.
The Triplett drug trafficking organization employed individuals, like
MARCETTEAUS MCGEE, aka “Antonio,” aka “Keitho,” 31, of Chicago; CHRISTOPHER TIDWELL, aka “Gov,” 42, of
Chicago; JAMES SMITH, aka “J Dub,” 35, of Chicago; and CHIQUITA JACKSON, 29, of
Chicago, to manage the Grenshaw drug spot and advise Triplett when resupply was
needed, to shuttle heroin among the various stash and retail locations, and to
return his share of the profits to him.
The organization employed street-level workers responsible for the
retail sale of its heroin such as JACKIE TYLER, 29, of Chicago.
Levaughn Collins, a wholesale supplier to the Triplet drug
trafficking organization, and others, operated his heroin distribution from his
main stash house at 561 East 103rd Place, as well as specific locations such as
2936 West Warren Boulevard, the charges allege.
Other defendants, including LARRY COLLINS, aka “Scooter,” 38, of
Chicago, JIMMY BELL, aka “Dirt,” 38, of Chicago; LAMEL BURNS, aka “Slim,” 38,
of Dolton; and KEVIN GARDNER, aka “Bo,”
35 of Chicago, allegedly assisted Levaughn Collins in diluting the heroin to
increase profits and packaging the heroin into smaller, user-sized quantities
for street-resale. Heroin packaged and
distributed by Collins’s organization was typically packaged in small
user-portion plastic bags with orange basketballs, purple lady logos, green
Playboy bunnies, Hershey’s kisses, or black panda bear symbols stamped on them.
One federal complaint charges twelve defendants ― James
Triplett, Levaughn Collins, Larry Collins, Jimmy Bell, Lamel Burns, Kevin
Gardner, Christopher Tidwell, Marcetteaus McGee, James Smith, Chiquette
Jackson, Jackie Tyler and ANTON HIGGINS, aka “Spud,” 35, of Chicago― with
conspiracy to possess and distribute more than a kilogram of heroin. If convicted, they each face a mandatory
minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment and a
$10 million fine.
DONALD MCINTOSH, aka “Donnie,” 40, of Chicago, and NEKENYA
HARDY, aka “Keefy,” 36, of Berwyn, were charged separately with being heroin
customers of Levaughn Collins. If
convicted, McIntosh faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a
maximum of 40 years and a $5 million fine and Hardy faces a maximum of 20 years
in prison and a $1 million fine.
ANGELES AVALOS, 32, of Chicago, was also charged separately
with being a heroin supplier to Levaughn Collins. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of
five years in prison and a maximum of 40 years and a $5 million fine.
DEONTE THOMAS, aka “12th Street,” 25, of Chicago, was also
charged separately with distributing heroin in the 3700 block of West Grenshaw
Street. If convicted, he faces a
mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 40 years and a $5
million fine.
The 27 state defendants, charged for their alleged roles in
supplying and distributing heroin are: CARL AUSTIN, DEMARIO BUTLER, DEJON CARR,
LAVORA CHILDRESS, DEWAYNE COOK, JOHNNY CORBIN, SIMEON CURRIE, DEANDRE CURRY,
MARQUITA DAVIS, ORLANDO EDWARDS, TERRELL HARRIS, WILLIE HUGHES, ERIC JACKSON,
COSHAWNDRA JENKINS, ERIC LEMON, ANDRE MINOR, BERNARD PERSON, DARRYL PLEASANT,
DONALD ROGERS, FLOYD SHAW, KENNETH SMITH, LEONARD SMITH, TIMESHA WASHINGTON,
LEONARD WHITE, DOMINICK WILLIAMS and JASON WOODS.
Assistant United States Attorneys Katherine A. Sawyer and
Andrew K. Polovin are representing the government in the federal cases. Assistant State’s Attorney Aaron R. Bond is
prosecuting the state cases.
The public is reminded that complaints contain only charges
and are not evidence of guilt. The
defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the
government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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