ATF Arrests 3 Chicago Gang Members on Federal Gun Dealing and Drug Trafficking Charges in Undercover Sting

    CHICAGO, Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Three Chicago gang members were to
 appear before U.S. District Court Magistrate Nan R. Nolan today after being
 arrested on federal firearms and narcotics violations by special agents of
 the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
     Cynthia Ford, Danny L. Mitchell and Albert W. Jones were arrested
 yesterday after they allegedly traded four and one-half ounces of crack
 cocaine for eight semi-automatic handguns during an undercover sting. A
 fourth coconspirator named in the criminal complaint, Terryon Cates,
 remains at large. As previously convicted felons, all the defendants are
 prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms.
     The arrests culminated a three-month series of undercover crack cocaine
 and heroin buys and recorded conversations about buying guns. Ford,
 Mitchell and Jones attempted to flee the scene at the conclusion of the
 undercover arrest operation yesterday, but were immediately apprehended.
 All four suspects are members of the Gangster Disciples Street Gang
 operating in the Englewood neighborhood in Chicago.
     Ford, 24, of 1006 E. 80th St., is a ranking member of the Gangster
 Disciples. Mitchell, 29, of 831 W. 50th Pl., and Jones, 27, of 14721 S.
 Lexington, Harvey, Ill., were charged with conspiring to possess with the
 intent to distribute in excess of 50 grams of mixtures containing cocaine
 base, in the form of "crack cocaine," a Schedule II Narcotic Drug
 Controlled Substance. The suspects allegedly conspired to sell more than
 300 grams of crack cocaine and heroin to an undercover ATF agent, and as
 part of the undercover meetings, the suspects negotiated the purchase of
 firearms to be used by the gang.
     "In response to the tragic deaths of innocent victims because of gang
 violence, ATF and the Chicago Police Department joined together to bring
 their combined expertise and resources to Englewood in order to curb the
 indiscriminate violence, making the community safer for the law abiding
 citizens," said ATF Chicago Special Agent in Charge Andrew Traver.
     If convicted of the firearms and narcotics violations, the defendants
 face a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum
 sentence of life in prison.
     The ongoing investigation is the result of a joint enforcement
 operation being conducted by ATF and the Chicago Police Department in the
 Englewood community of Chicago. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pekron is
 representing the government in the case.
     Contact: Special Agent Thomas J. Ahern
     Public Information Officer
     312-846-7228
     312-735-0675
 
 

SOURCE Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives