24 People Hit With Federal Charges In West Side Gang Investigation

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CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO/AP) -- An investigation of an illegal drug trafficking operation on Chicago's West Side has led to federal charges against 24 purported gang members, as well as the seizure of more than 30 guns and more than $1.3 million in cash, authorities said Friday.

The U.S. Department of Justice said “Operation Wicked Stones” revealed a drug trafficking operation in which two violent Chicago street gangs cooperated to distribute wholesale quantities of drugs and launder money. Among those charged were two suspected gang members who were already charged in a murder-for-hire conspiracy in which one person was killed in 2018.

The investigation was conducted by the Chicago High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, which is made up of investigators with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. 

The operation led to the seizure of 34 guns, 6.7 kilograms of heroin, 17 kg of cocaine, more than a kilogram of fentanyl, 50 grams of crack cocaine, 200 pounds of marijuana and more than $1.3 million in cash and jewelry allegedly purchased with drug money, prosecutors said.

James Harris, 51, of Berkley; Patrick Turner, 52, of Bellwood; Gregory Hopkins, 50, of Chicago; Larnell Pillow, 51, of Chicago; Rickey Griffin, 51, of South Holland; Eric Berger, 53, of Chicago; and Reginald Richmond, 29, of Sunrise Terrace, are all charged in a single indictment that accuses them of distributing “wholesale quantities of heroin and cocaine” on the West Side, prosecutors said.

Federal officials also revealed that the murder-for-hire charges filed against Deshawn Morgan, Darius Murphy and Demond Brown last year were part of the same investigation.

Other defendants charged as part of the investigation include:

  • Donald Lee, 47, of Chicago, charged with gun offenses;
  • Jamar Spencer, 34, of Chicago, charged with gun and drug offenses;
  • Terrence Jenkins, 52, of Chicago, charged with gun offenses;
  • Larry Jones, 39, of Broadview, charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin;
  • Marsha Fountain, 48, of Plainfield, charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin;
  • Enrique Fuentes-Ortiz, 45, of Chicago, charged with gun and drug offenses;
  • Deshon George, 26, of Chicago, charged with gun offenses;
  • Dante Dockett, 42, of Chicago, charged with gun offenses;
  • Derrius Burns, 27, of Chicago, charged with gun offenses;
  • Daniel Cerpa, 41, of Elmhurst, charged with fentanyl and heroin trafficking;
  • Wilfredo Gomez, 48, of Chicago, charged with fentanyl and heroin trafficking;
  • Marshawn Ranson, 40, of Chicago, charged with fentanyl trafficking and money laundering; and
  • Jesse Ochoa, 38, of Chicago, charged with drug offenses.

The weapons, drug and money laundering charges in the various indictments carry maximum sentences of 10 years to life in prison, while the murder-for-hire charges carry mandatory life sentences with a possibility to pursue the death penalty, prosecutors said.

A news conference was planned Friday with U.S. Attorney John R. Lausch Jr., Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown and the leaders the Chicago offices of the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service and federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.

(The Sun-Times Media Wire, Associated Press, and WBBM Newsradio contributed to this copy.)