Thread: Drug bust nets gang leaders

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Drug bust nets alleged suburban gang leaders
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By Ray Quintanilla
Tribune staff reporter

April 26, 2007, 10:11 PM CDT

With nine suspected Latin Kings gang leaders arrested, including some Thursday, on drug-trafficking charges, gang activity has been significantly disrupted in Carpentersville and across the northwest suburbs, authorities said.

The arrests culminated more than two years of police work and involved recovery of at least 5 kilograms of cocaine, some marijuana and weapons, one of them a .45-caliber machine gun, authorities said.

"We believe [the gang] is in a bit of disarray right now," said FBI Supervisory Special Agent Paul Bock. "This is a violent group of individuals. We know this has had an impact."

Police said they obtained important information on the structure of the Latin Kings and their alleged drug activities by using wiretaps, traffic stops and undercover drug purchases, primarily of cocaine, from March 2004 to August 2006.

Carpentersville Police Detective Tim Bosshart said the investigation into the Latin Kings also led authorities to about two dozen others who have been arrested in recent months for such crimes as burglaries, shootings and a kidnapping.

Authorities said five street gangs could be operating across the northwest suburbs.

Arrested in Thursday's sweep were Carpentersville residents Richard Olvera, 27, Antonio Torres Sr., 55, and Lisa Urbina, 27. Also arrested were Joseph Garcia, 23, of Algonquin, Francisco Morales, 26, of West Dundee and Jonathan Inman, 24, of Gurnee.

The crackdown included charges against three other Carpentersville residents already in jail: Gabriel Morales, 25, Christina Corbin, 21, and Alex Fahey, 20.

The arrests were made in coordination with the Carpentersville Police Department, the North Central Narcotics Task Force, Illinois State Police, the Aurora Police Department and the Kane County Sheriff's Department.

Carpentersville Village President Bill Sarto called the arrests important in his community's efforts to crack down on crime and open-air drug dealing.

"It's a major step forward in cleaning up Carpentersville's streets," Sarto said. "Something like this is vital."

The investigation also opened paths to other crimes and suspects, officials said. For example, wiretaps helped lead to a warrant for David Rose, 21, of Carpentersville in connection with the firing of shots at the home of Kane County Board member Hollie Kissane in March 2006, Carpentersville Police Chief David Neumann said.

Rose is being sought on charges of armed violence and aggravated discharge of a firearm.

Authorities declined to say why the house was targeted, but officials said it had nothing to do with Kissane's role as an elected official.

rquintanilla@tribune.com
Copyright © 2007, Chicago Tribune

Gee, I guess they won't get the thousands of Latin King gang members unless Guiterrez, Daley and Blago give their blessing to invade Chicago which is their sanctuary safe haven.

And now we have just one of many, I'm sure, examples of why the people in that town are so pissed off!! This is appalling. It's like the gangsters in the 30's (or whenever that was). Unreal.

Just goes to show the environment the people of Carpentersville live in......yet they're seen as the bad guys for fighting this. Just like Hazelton and other cities being destroyed like this.