Eight individuals are facing federal drug and firearm charges for allegedly trafficking fentanyl and cocaine on Chicago’s South Side.
A federal indictment unsealed Friday reveals that the defendants are accused of conspiring to distribute these drugs from March 2023 to July 2024, using a residence in Englewood as their base of operations.
The indictment also states that the individuals possessed loaded firearms while conducting their illegal activities.
READ: Chicago Man Sentenced To 18 Years For Supporting ISIS And Drug Trafficking
Law enforcement seized significant quantities of suspected fentanyl-laced heroin and crack cocaine during the investigation, along with over a dozen firearms and ammunition.
The accused are:
- Patrick Tucker, 33
- Thomas Cunningham, 29
- Darius Johnson, 23
- Kywante Shumake, 26
- Keontis Shumake, 23
- Kamari Ross, 26
- Drequan Bass, 26
- Lacola Williams, 26
All defendants are from Chicago and have pleaded not guilty to the charges. If convicted, they face maximum sentences of life in prison. Tucker and Cunningham face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, while the others face a mandatory minimum of 10 years.
The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Chicago Police Department.
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