19 charged after 9-month drug trafficking investigation
Sun-Times Media Wire June 9, 2012 11:35AM
Updated: June 11, 2012 10:24AM
A 9-month investigation into drug trafficking in the city of Chicago and the suburbs had led to federal narcotics charges against 19 people for their roles in two organizations that supplied and distributed multi-kilogram quantities of powder and crack cocaine.
Several kilograms of cocaine were seized in the operation, along with crack, heroin, marijuana, about $100,000 in cash, 10 guns and six vehicles, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Sixteen arrests came Wednesday as Chicago police and Drug Enforcement Administration agents executed search warrants in Chicago, Calumet City, Crete, and Elmhurst. The other three suspects were already in state custody.
All 19 were charged with various narcotics possession or distribution conspiracy offenses in an 11-count criminal complaint filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court and unsealed following the arrests.
Defendants began appearing Wednesday in U.S. District Court and remain in federal custody pending detention hearings during the week of June 10.
According to a 253-page criminal complaint, Odell Givens, 42, of Crete, and Antwan Jones, 36, of Elmhurst, were leaders of drug trafficking organizations.
Givens’ organization had three main cocaine suppliers including Phillip Jones; Bacilio Lopez-Rios, Maria Aguiano and Pablo Lopez (who worked together); and Bryant Paige, according to the charges.
Edward Parker, 42, of Calumet City transported, stored and sold drugs, and collected money for Givens and his organization, the complaint alleges.
Givens and Parker also supplied Roosevelt Hamilton, 36, of Dolton, with distribution quantities of cocaine, and Hamilton provided a place where Givens could cook powder cocaine into crack, the charges allege.
Antwan Jones and his organization allegedly stored and distributed drugs, including heroin, from the third floor and garden apartments of a building at 607 E. 60th St., the complaint charges.
The charges against 16 defendants carry a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in prison and a maximum fine of $5 million.
Givens and Parker each face a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison and a $10 million fine.
