Thirty-two people are being charged with an array of crimes after the Chicago Police Department completed a drug raid on the West Side. According to reports, the arrests came after an almost yearlong investigation involving multiple agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration. Many of those arrested are now facing federal charges of narcotics distribution and conspiracy.
According to reports, officers with the Chicago Police Department went to seven homes with search warrants and seized $50,000 in cash, 12 guns and a 2014 Maserati Gran Turismo. Officers also allegedly found close to a half-kilogram of heroin and more than a half-kilogram of cocaine. Officers arrested 32 people as part of the June 24 bust, while 10 others were unable to be apprehended or still in police custody at the time of reports.
According to reports, 14 of those arrested could be charged with federal crimes, while 26 others are anticipating drug distribution charges at the state level. Depending on the charges, some of the defendants may be facing at least 10 years to life in prison and millions of dollars in fines.
This case is a perfect example of how serious and how sudden drug charges can be. As seen here, these investigations often involve state and federal agencies, and departments put a great deal of resources and time into the investigations, which can run over the course of months or even years. It only takes one well-timed search warrant for officers to gather evidence to bolster the prosecution’s case, and that’s one reason why the defense focuses on that process early on. If something was wrong with the search warrant or how it was executed, any evidence seized may be deemed inadmissible in court, aiding the defendant’s case.
Source: Chicagoist, “42 People Face State, Federal Drug Charges In West Side Heroin Bust,” Rachel Cromidas, June 24, 2015
