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U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation

In Reply, Please Refer to Release No.

219 South Dearborn Street Chicago, Illinois 60604

June 28, 2004 Fourteen Charged in Second Phase Of "King of the Hill" Investigation Thomas J. Kneir, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Larry Trent, Director of the Illinois State Police (ISP); Paul Kaupas, Will County Sheriff; David Gerdes, Chief of the Joliet Police Department; Brian Hafner, Director of the Combined Police Assiatance Team (CPAT) and Carl Anderson, Director of the Metropolitan Area Narcotics Squad (MANS) announced today the arrest of seven individuals from Joilet and the surrounding area of Will County, as part of an ongoing FBI led investigation code named "Operation King of the Hill II". The second phase of this five-year probe, which targeted the distribution of illegal narcotics, primarily cocaine and crack cocaine, in the "Hill" area of Joliet, led to the filing of charges against 14 area residents. All of those named today were charged in a criminal complaint filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Chicago with conspiracy and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, both of which are felony offenses. According to the complaint, ALFONSO PEREZ, age 26, of Melrose Park, Illinois was identified as a primary supplier of cocaine to RODNEY BEW, age 30, of Joliet. BEW is alleged to have sold wholesale quantities of the drug to numerous individuals in the Joliet area, who then re-sold the drugs to their own customers. This joint investigation relied heavily on advanced investigative techniques, including a court authorized intercept of telephone conversations of defendant RODNEY BEW, during which hundreds of drug related calls were intercepted. Partick J. Fitzgerald, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, coordinated the investigation of this case and his office was responsible for the charges that were filed last week. To date, a total of 53 individuals have been charged with various criminal violations as part of this investigation. In announcing these charges, Mr. Kneir said "This second round of arrests will hopefully demonstrate to the citizens of Joliet, our long-term commitment to combating the problem of gang controlled drug trafficking and its associated violence in their neighborhoods." Mr. Kneir also expressed his appreciation to the state and local law enforcement agencies whose invaluable assistance have helped move this investigation forward. Others charged as part of this investigation are identified as: 1. RUBEN BEW, age 30, 2133 Luther, Lockport. 2. TIFFANY BEW, age 25, 415 Elwood, Joliet. 3. JOSHUA BETTS, age 19, 654 Second Avenue, Joliet. 4. BRIAN K. JOHNSON, age 34, 618 Broadway, Joliet. 5. WILLIAM FULLER III, age 26, 1113 Helen, Joliet. 6. ROBERT LEE KNOX, age 39, 206 Nobes, Lockport. 7. MICHAEL LUBICK, age 29, 807 Fisk, Joliet. 8. WILLIAM O. McEACHINS, age 33, 12258 Normal, Chicago. 9. TRAYON T. MYERS, age 24, 818 Robin Lane, Joliet. 10. ISSAC NORFLEET, age 29, 1202 Hague, Joliet. 11. DONALD RESAVENTO, age 51, 701 Clinton, Lockport. 12. KENDRICK PRUITTE, age 24, 314 North Larkin, Joliet. All of those arrested appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Geraldine Soat Brown, earlier today, at which time they were ordered held without bond, pending their next scheduled court appearance. If convicted of the charges against them, each defendant faces a possible sentence of up to 20 years incarceration. 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. EDITOR's NOTE: A copy of the complaint filed in this case is available from the Chicago FBI Press Office at (312) 786-2645.

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