Drug and prostitution sting targets areas near O'Hare

CHICAGO (STNG) -- More than 100 people were arrested and more than $100,000 in guns, drugs and cash were seized during a six-month Cook County Sheriff's police investigation targeting northwest suburban crime.

"Operation Room Service," focused on criminal activity at motels and hotels along the Mannheim Road corridor just south of O’Hare International Airport. The area, a destination site for prostitution, has seen a shift in recent months, according to a release from the sheriff's office.

The investigation began when sheriff’s gang officers were tipped in April to a load of illegal guns being sold from the Lido Motel at 2415 N. Mannheim Rd. in Franklin Park. Those arrests led to information about others selling guns and drugs in the area and undercover work began, the release said.

Local residents pointed out specific areas of complaints at a town hall meeting last summer in unincorporated Leyden Township, which prompted investigators, already working undercover, to target specific areas and people based on  complaints, the release said.

Drug dealers were moving into the neighborhood because of a steady stream of traffic provided by drug-addicted prostitutes and suburban teens with easy access to cash, the release said. Rather than conducting deals with addicts on street corners, many city drug dealers moved their operations to suburban motels, the release said.

Dealers told undercover officers they were making as much -- or more -- money than they did in the city, with less police pressure. But as officers arrested street level dealers, they developed informants and leads on higher-level dealers supplying cocaine, marijuana and heroin to the area, the release said.

Among the 60 people arrested on gun or drug charges, Sheriff Tom Dart pointed out Juan Charo, 53, of Stone Park; Jose Valles-Sanchez, 32, of Stone Park; Carnell Johnson, 37, of Bellwood; and Alexis Cruz, 29, of Northlake, as being key figures in the drug trafficking operations, the release said.

In a simultaneous operation, the sheriff’s Vice Unit was conducting undercover prostitution stings at some of the same motels. Prostitutes were picked up on street corners and off craigslist, while johns were arrested by undercover female officers along Mannheim Road, the release said.

Among the 58 arrested were a wealthy businessman on his way to conduct a seminar and a septic tank cleaning man who had just finished work at the airport. All the men arrested paid a $500 county ordinance fee, a $500 towing fee and administrative costs before being released.

Overall, police seized 18 guns and 2,000 rounds of ammunition, while making 52 undercover drug buys. Officers seized 259 grams of cocaine, with a street value of almost $10,000; a2,219 grams of marijuana, with a street value of almost $45,000; and more than $35,000 in cash.    

Three targets of the investigation remain at large: Tuwayne Bell, 38, of Stone Park; Frank Mandanici, 56, of Lombard; and Roger Murray, 54, of North Riverside, the release said.