U.S. Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation

2111 W Roosevelt Rd.
Chicago, IL, 60608.
Phone (312) 421-6700

Chicago FBI Press Office

Phone: (312) 829-1199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 16, 2008

13 CHARGED IN NORTHWEST SUBURBAN DRUG SWEEP

Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was joined today by Patrick Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, in announcing the filing of criminal charges against thirteen (13) northwest suburban residents for multiple violations of federal drug laws.

All 13 were charged in two separate criminal complaints filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago, earlier this week. At this time, ten of those charged are in custody, having been arrested earlier today in an area wide sweep that was conducted by agents and officers from the Chicago FBI, the Chicago Police Department and eight northwest suburban police departments. Three additional defendants remain at-large and are now the subject of a nationwide manhunt.

According to the complaint, ROBERT ATKINS, also known as (aka) "Rob E", age 37, whose last known address was 2229 Mayfair Avenue in Westchester, Illinois, was alleged to be a major trafficker of illicit drugs in the northwest suburbs, supplying wholesale quantities of cocaine and crack cocaine to local drug dealers. ATKINS is believed to have used the Streets of Woodfield, located in Schaumburg, Illinois and the Wise Hand Car Wash, located at 1811 West Wise Road, also in Schaumburg, as distribution points for illicit drugs. ATKINS is believed to have owned the car wash until recently and also operates a recording studio in Chicago called Krunch Tyme Entertainment.

The complaint further identifies YECENIA AVILA, aka "Jesse", age 26, whose last known address was 315 Exmoore in Streamwood, as being a supplier of kilogram quantities cocaine to ATKINS.

The charges announced today were the result of a nearly three-year investigation, code named "Operation Sitt'n Ducks", which involved the joint efforts of the Elgin, Hanover Park, Hoffman Estates, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Roselle, Schaumburg and Streamwood Police Departments. The Criminal Investigative Division of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), under the direction of Alvin Patton, also participated as did the Cook County State's Attorney's office. The code name "Sitt'n Ducks" was selected as investigators felt the combined efforts of the numerous law enforcement agencies would make the defendants "Sitting Ducks", despite their apparent feeling of impunity.

The investigation made extensive use of court authorized electronic surveillance of several telephones used in connection with this illicit drug distribution network along with covert drug purchases. During the course of the investigation, nearly eight (8) kilograms of cocaine was recovered along with the seizure of approximately $100,000 in suspected drug proceeds.

Others charged today are identified as:
TREVAIL BANKS, aka "Tre", age 26, of 1096 Stonehedge Drive, Schaumburg.
SHANNON BENNET, aka "Shine", age 29, of 1040 East 80th Street, Chicago.
KENTON BRADLEY, age 33, of 5512 Montibello, Hanover Park.
ROBERT GREEN, age 41, of 808 Holyoke Court, Schaumburg.
RANDY HAMLETTE, age 39, of 808 Holyoke Court, Schaumburg.
CURLY MIXON, age 24, of 17 South Porter, Elgin.
YULIET NAVA, age 24, of 334 Dundee, Elgin.
COREY STEWART, aka "Sug", age 34, of 371 Silva, Elgin.
VERNIAL TROTTER, aka "Too Raw", age 35, of 628 Hayward, Streamwood.
ROBERT WASP, aka "Big Boy", age 37, of 1930 Oxford Court, Schaumburg.
FREDERICK WOODSON, age 41, of 36 Grant Circle, Streamwood.

A fourteenth defendant, DAMIEN BEAMON of Elgin, was charged by the Cook County State's Attorney with violating state drug laws.

A fifteenth defendant, KATRICE WOODSON, age 39, of 36 Grant Circle in Streamwood was arrested in August of this year and charged in a separate complaint.

In announcing these charges, Mr. Grant noted the invaluable assistance provided by the many local law enforcement agencies who took part in this investigation. Said Mr. Grant "The charges announced today have shown once again that the problem of gangs and drugs are not isolated to the City of Chicago and without the experience and expertise of our local law enforcement partners, it would be nearly impossible to effectively combat these crimes."

Those arrested today are scheduled to appear, later this afternoon, before United States Magistrate Judge Arlander Keyes in Chicago. If convicted of the charges filed against them, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten (10) years incarceration to a possible maximum of life in prison.

The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Copies of the criminal complaints filed in this case are available from the Chicago FBI's press office at (312) 829-1199.