An alleged Chicago gang leader is among 23 individuals facing criminal charges as part of a federal investigation into drug and gun trafficking on the city's South Side.
The defendants were arrested Tuesday after a multi-year investigation, according to the Northern District of Illinois U.S. Attorney's Office.
Among those arrested is Darnell McMiller, 34, of Chicago, also known as "Murder." McMiller is described in the charges as the current leader of the Black Disciples street gang in Chicago. Several other alleged high-ranking members of the Black Disciples were also charged and arrested; including Clarence January, who allegedly leads the gang's "Dog Pound" factions; Kenneth Browns, who allegedly supplied the gang with drugs for distribution in Chicago; as well as Charles Knight, an alleged high-ranking member of the Gangster Disciples street gang, who is charged as part of the probe with supplying narcotics to McMiller's crew.
Law enforcement also seized 24 firearms, more than 13 kilograms of cocaine, more than a kilogram of heroin, approximately 1,350 grams of heroin laced with fentanyl, approximately 750 grams of fentanyl or fentanyl analogue, approximately 378 grams of crack cocaine, $52,595 in suspected illicit cash proceeds, and distribution quantities of suspected MDMA pills. Much of the alleged drug and gun trafficking occurred in the Englewood neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago, according to officials.
The FBI and Chicago Police Department led the investigation, with assistance from ATF, DEA, IRS Criminal Investigation Division, the Chicago High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force and the FBI Windy City Task Force. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin also contributed to the investigation after unsealing an eight-person indictment this week, charging heroin trafficking offenses related to the case.
The FBI and Chicago Police Department led the investigation, with assistance from ATF, DEA, IRS Criminal Investigation Division, the Chicago High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force and the FBI Windy City Task Force. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin also contributed to the investigation after unsealing an eight-person indictment this week, charging heroin trafficking offenses related to the case.
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