Three Arrested in Aurora Drug Sweep

Robert D. Grant, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Gregory Thomas, Chief of the Aurora Police Department (APD), announced today the arrest of three individuals for violation of federal drug laws. The arrests were made on September 26-27, 2011, without incident, by FBI agents and officers of the APD.

Those arrested are identified as TIMOTHY D. HILL, age 28, of 812 N. Gladstone, Aurora, Illinois; MARKUS D. RUSSELL, age 23, of 460 Iowa Avenue, Aurora, Illinois; and VERNON L. TURNER, age 38, of 1824 Thornapple Way, Aurora, Illinois.

Both HILL and RUSSELL were charged in criminal complaints filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago with knowingly and intentionally distributing a controlled substance, which is a felony offense. TURNER was charged in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, which is a felony offense.

Two other individuals charged with state charges were already in custody on unrelated charges. They are identified as ARMANDO GALLARDO, age 21 and DEANNA JONES, age 42. A third individual charged, SEAN R. PARKER, JR., age 23, is also in custody on unrelated charges and will appear in federal court at a later date.

Four other individuals were charged with state charges. They are identified as DANIEL JAMES, age 55, of 461 North Lake Street, Aurora, Illinois; SEDRICK E. JONES, age 35, of 1731 Deer Run Drive, Montgomery, Illinois; EUGENE A. PRYOR Jr., age 23, of 1731 Deer Run Drive, Montgomery, Illinois; and LAKISHA S. CARTER, age 28, of 102 Harbor Drive, Aurora, Illinois.

Two individuals charged in the complaints remain fugitives. They are identified as STEVE A. LANGSTON, age 20, of 1362 Cottonwood Drive, Aurora, Illinois; and AJAIE M. MARTIN, age 29, of 2415 Marigold Court, Aurora, Illinois.

According to the complaints, those charged were alleged to have distributed mixtures containing cocaine base in the form of crack cocaine, primarily in Aurora and the surrounding communities. The joint investigation which resulted in these charges utilized both undercover operations and court authorized electronic surveillance of telephones utilized by the defendants in connection with their drug operations.

This two-year joint gang and narcotics investigation, involving the FBI, Aurora Police Department, United States Attorney’s Office, Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the Kendall County State’s Attorney’s Office, code named “Operation Fallen Angel,” targeted known and suspected members of the Maniac Latin Disciples street gang and their drug distribution activities. In addition, the Illinois State Police North Central Narcotics Task Force and the Montgomery Police Department assisted in the arrests of those charged.

TURNER and RUSSELL appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan E. Cox on September 30, 2011 and were ordered held without bond pending their next scheduled court appearance; HILL is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cox on October 5, 2011; and PARKER is currently in state custody awaiting transfer to federal custody for his initial appearance before U.S Magistrate Judge Cox. If convicted of the charges filed against them, all of those charged face a mandatory minimum of five to 10 years’ incarceration to a maximum sentence 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 until proven guilty in a court of law.

Anyone having any information concerning the two fugitives in this investigation is asked to call the FBI at (312) 421-6700 or the Aurora Police Department at (630) 256-5000.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Copies of the below wanted flyers are available from the Chicago FBI press office at (312) 829-1199.