U.S. Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
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U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation |
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| In Reply, Please Refer to Release No. |
219 South Dearborn Street Chicago, Illinois 60604 |
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December 18, 2001 Gang Investigation Results in 17 Arrests, Discovery of PCP Laboratory Thomas J. Kneir, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Terry G. Hillard, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department (CPD); Patrick J. Fitzgerald, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Richard Devine, Cook County State's Attorney and James W. Martin, Chief Inspector, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations Division (IRS-CID) announced today the arrest of seventeen (17) members and associates of the Ambrose Street Gang. The arrests were the culmination of a two year investigation conducted by the FBI's Gang Crimes Task Force (GCTF), which is comprised of FBI Special Agents and CPD Gang Crimes Officers; CPD Narcotics and Gang Investigation Section Officers; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigative Division (IRS-CID) and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Investigative Support Center. Those arrested have been charged in criminal complaints filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago with conspiracy to possess or manufacture a controlled substance (PCP) with intent to distribute. Phencyclidine, commonly known as PCP, is a Schedule III hallucinogenic drug that is manufactured in clandestine laboratories. The investigation, code named "Operation Blue Water", targeted the drug distribution activities of the Ambrose Street Gang and their suppliers. Centered in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood, the Ambrose street gang is one of Chicago's oldest, dating to the mid-1960's. The primarily Hispanic gang is active on the south and southwest sides of Chicago. In announcing today's arrests, SAC Kneir wants to highlight the outstanding cooperation between the various State and Federal agencies involved in this complex, multi-jurisdictional investigation. "Joint investigations, such as "Operation Blue Water", have proven to be the most effective way to neutralize urban street gangs, that terrorize the neighborhoods in which they operate." Superintendent Hillard added "The Chicago Police Department's close relationship with Federal Law Enforcement and our participation in joint investigations such as "Operation Blue Water" are one of the most effective ways for us to combat the drug dealers and gangbangers who prey on the honest and law abiding citizens of Chicago." Five (5) of those charged, DERON WRIGHT, DAN WRIGHT Jr., CHRISTINE WILLIAMS, WENDIE NEAL COOLEY and LETECHIA WILLIAMS were arrested Sunday afternoon by GCTF personnel, without incident, in the vicinity of 71st and South State Street in Chicago. The arrests were made after investigators discovered a drug deal in process. Approximately two (2) pints of PCP were recovered, along with a quantity of cash, weapons and vehicles. Also on Sunday, GCTF personnel and CPD Narcotics Officers raided a clandestine laboratory and arrested the owner, DAN WRIGHT, SR. The laboratory was located in an upstairs area at Triple D Cartage, 7592 Milton Road in Gary, Indiana, which is owned by WRIGHT. Discovered during the search was extensive laboratory equipment and significant quantities of precursor chemicals, commonly used in the manufacture of PCP. Eight (8) additional defendants were either arrested or taken into Federal custody, earlier today, by GCTF personnel. NAPOLEON MOORE, DIONNE GARCIA, LEONEL DURAN, WILLIE PEREZ, TINO GUZMAN and MIGUEL PEREZ were all arrested, without incident. ALFREDO LONGORIA and FELIPE SAMBRANO were already in police custody on prior charges. Defendant JUAN DURAN has not been located and is considered to be a fugitive. Also today, Federal search warrants were executed at four (4) separate locations throughout the Chicago area. Significant amounts of cash and drugs were recovered. The remaining two (2) defendants, SHELBY L. PARCHMAN and ARTHUR E. CLEVELAND, were charged in a criminal complaint filed Monday, following their arrest by the Naperville Police Department (NPD) on Saturday evening. According to the complaint, a NPD officer on routine patrol spotted PARCHMAN and CLEVELAND driving in a vehicle that was missing a front license plate. After conducting a traffic stop, CLEVELAND was arrested for driving without a license. A subsequent search of the vehicle discovered substantial quantities of precursor chemicals, specifically Ethyl Ether, Phenyl Magnesium Bromide and Potassium Cyanide. PARCHMAN is believed to be the chemical supplier to WRIGHT and CLEVELAND. Those arrested and charged are identified as follows: 1. Daniel L. Wright, Sr., age 60, 1306 W. Roosevelt,Gary, Indiana 2. Deron I. Wright, age 30, 4033 Harrison, Gary, Indiana 3. Dan R. Wright, Jr., age 31, 1306 W. Roosevelt, Gary,Indiana 4. Christine Williams, age 36, 7657 N. Ashland, Chicago, Illinois 5. Wendie Neal Cooley, age 37, 6318 S. Washtenaw, Chicago, Illinois 6. Letechia A. Williams, age 29, 7657 N. Ashland, Chicago, Illinois 7. Napoleon Moore, age 33, 938 23rd Avenue, Bellwood, Illinois 8. Alfredo R. Longoria, age 28, 2917 N. Wisner, Chicago, Illinois 9. Juan C. Duran, age 25, 2955 W. 40th Street, Chicago, Illinois 10. Dionne Garcia, age 25, 2955 W. 40th Street, Chicago, Illinois 11. Leonel R. Duran, age 26, 4124 W. 55th Street, Chicago, Illinois 12. William B. Perez, age 32, 4658 S. Troy, Chicago, Illinois 13. Miguel Perez Jr., age 19, 2009 W. 35th Street, Chicago, Illinois 14. Tino Guzman, age 30, 1322 W. 18th Place, Chicago, Illinois 15. Felipe Sambrano, age 25, 2122 S. May, Chicago, Illinois 16. Arthur E. Cleveland, age 44, 17202 Coventry Lane, Country Club Hills, Illinois 17. Shelby L. Parchman, age 37, 2562 Stonehedge, Aurora, Illinois The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. |
