CHICAGO - One suspect allegedly sold crack at his son's football practice.
Federal drug charges have been filed against that man and 12 other northwest suburban residents in a drug sweep conducted by the FBI, Chicago Police and eight suburban police departments.
WBBM's Bob Roberts reports:
As of Tuesday, 10 of those charged are in custody, arrested earlier Tuesday, according to a release from the Chicago FBI office. Three additional defendants are at-large and are the subjects of a nationwide manhunt.
According to a federal criminal complaint, Robert Atkins, also known as "Rob E," 37, whose last known address was 2229 Mayfair Ave. in Westchester, was alleged to be a major trafficker of illicit drugs in the northwest suburbs, supplying wholesale quantities of cocaine and crack cocaine to local dealers, the release said.
Atkins is believed to have used the Streets of Woodfield mall in Schaumburg, and the Wise Hand Car Wash at 1811 W. Wise Rd., also in Schaumburg, as distribution points for illicit drugs. He is believed to have owned the car wash until recently and also operates a recording studio in Chicago called Krunch Tyme Entertainment, the release said.
Vernial Trotter, 35, of Streamwood, one of the three still at large, allegedly sold crack at his son’s football practice in Schaumburg’s Veterans Park.
According to the complaint, Yecenia Avila, 26, aka "Jesse," whose last known address was 315 Exmoore in Streamwood, supplied cocaine to Atkins.
The charges were the result of a nearly three-year investiagtion -- "Operation Sitt'n Ducks" -- which involved the joint efforts of the Elgin, Hanover Park, Hoffman Estates, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Roselle, Schaumburg and Streamwood police departments. "Sitt'n Ducks" was selected as investigators felt the combined efforts of the numerous agencies would make the defendants "sitting ducks" despite their feeling of impunity, the release said.
The investigation made extensive use of court-authorized electronic surveillance of several phones used in connection with illicit drug distribution, along with covert drug purchases. During the course of the investigation, nearly eight kilograms of cocaine were recovered along with the seizure of approximately $100,000 in suspected drug proceeds.
Others charged Tuesday are:
-- Trevail Banks, aka "Tre," 26, of Stonehedge Dr., Schaumburg
-- Shannon Bennet, aka "Shine," 29, of E. 80th St., Chicago
-- Kenton Bradley, 33, of Montibello, Hanover Park
-- Robert Green, 41, of Holyoke Ct., Schaumburg
-- Randy Hamlette, 39, of Holyoke Ct., Schaumburg
-- Curly Mixon, 24, of 17 South Porter, Elgin
-- Yuliet Nava, 24, of Dundee, Elgin
-- Corey Stewart, aka "Sug," 34, of Silva, Elgin
-- Vernial Trotter, aka "Too Raw," 35, of Hayward, Streamwood
-- Robert Wasp, aka "Big Boy," 37, of Oxford Ct., Schaumburg
-- Frederick Woodson, 41, of Grant Circle, Streamwood.
All except Stewart, Trotter and Mixon were arrested Tuesday.
A 14th defendant, Damien Beamon of Elgin, was charged by the Cook County State's Attorney's office with violating state drug laws.
A 15th defendant, Katrice Woodson, 39, of Grant Circle, Streamwood, was arrested in August and charged in a separate complaint.
Those arrested Tuesday were scheduled to appear later Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Arlander Keyes in Chicago.
If convicted, each faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years to a maximum of life in prison.
President Obama, in his weekly radio address, tells Congress to act quickly and pass financial reform to prevent economy from sliding into another Depression.
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