BRONZEVILLE — Police have started arresting dozens of people they say are responsible for selling heroin out of North Lawndale.
Forty-two people are facing drug charges for supplying and distributing heroin in North Lawndale, according to police. Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said the group controlled the area of West Grenshaw Street and Independence Boulevard and has been around for at least 10 years. It was one of the most "prolific" spots along the Heroin Highway and one of the worst spots in the city, he said, and as many as 41 shootings and four murders could be attributed to the group.
Police said they seized 12 guns, $50,000, nearly a half-kilogram of heroin and more than a half-kilogram of cocaine while arresting 32 defendants on Wednesday morning. Police have also seized more than 1½ kilograms of heroin since August as part of the investigation.
Police said they searched three "stash houses" and several of the defendants' homes on Wednesday, seizing two cars, including a 2014 Maserati GranTurismo.
McCarthy said the distribution of heroin along the 3700 block of West Grenshaw Street was controlled by James Triplett, known as "Trell," 33, of suburban Berkeley. People from the suburbs would come to the area to buy drugs, he said.
"The community has been plagued by this outfit for way too long ...," McCarthy said, adding that police would "do everything in [their] power" to stop the group.
Anita Alvarez, Cook County state's attorney, said the "heroin epidemic is tremendous here in Chicago and in Illinois."
"I think it's outrageous to know that there's this open-air drug market that close to a school on the West Side," Alvarez said.
McCarthy said areas affected by drug sales are "incredibly difficult to fix" and the arrests alone won't stop crime from plaguing the area. Locals will also have to build civic pride and police will remain in the area to help with that, he said.
The community has "to understand that this is not just a Band-Aid on a gunshot wound ...," he said. "This is a location that we are going to stay at, police are going to stay at."
The Chicago Police Department worked with the Drug Enforcement Administration on the investigation. Sixteen people face federal charges and 26 face state charges.
Those facing federal charges of conspiracy to possess and distribute more than 1 kilogram of heroin:
- James Triplett, 33, of Berkeley
- Levaughn Collins, 34, of Chicago
- Larry Collins, 38, of Chicago
- Jimmy Bell, 38, of Chicago
- Lamel Burns, 38, of Dolton
- Kevin Gardner, 35, of Chicago
- Christopher Tidwell, 42, of Chicago
- Marcetteaus McGee, 31, of Chicago
- James Smith, 35, of Chicago
- Chiquita Jackson, 29, of Chicago
- Jackie Tyler, 29, of Chicago
- Anton Higgins, 35, of Chicago
Those facing federal charges of purchasing heroin:
- Donald McIntosh, 40, of Chicago
- Nekenya Hardy, 36, of Berwyn
Those facing federal charges of supplying heroin to Collins:
- Angeles Avalos, 32, of Chicago
Those facing federal charges of distributing heroin:
- Deonte Thomas, 25, of Chicago
Those facing state charges for supplying and distributing heroin:
- 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
- Jason Woods
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