U. S.

Department of Justice

United States Attorney

Northern District of Illinois
Patrick J. Fitzgerald Federal Building
United States Attorney 219 South Dearborn Street, Fifth Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60604
(312) 353-5300

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS CONTACTS:

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 2010 AUSA Jeff Perconte (312)886-2065
www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln AUSA Matthew Madden (312) 886-2050
Randall Samborn (312) 353-5318

U.S. CHARGES 19 ALLEGED 2-6 STREET GANG MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATES

WITH COCAINE DISTRIBUTION AND MARIJUANA GROWING

Five additional defendants facing state narcotics charges

CHICAGO — Buying and selling multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine, growing high-grade

marijuana plants, and obtaining and using firearms to protect their narcotics trafficking were among

the regular activities of two dozen alleged members and associates of the Gangster 2-6 Nation street

gang on the city’s west side, according to new federal and state charges. The defendants’ daily

routines ended abruptly yesterday when Chicago Police officers, together with DEA and IRS agents

and deputy U.S. Marshals, began serving arrest warrants and conducting searches, ending a 15-

month investigation.

Twenty-two defendants were arrested yesterday on federal or state charges, federal search

warrants were executed at four locations, including defendants’ residences in Berwyn and Chicago,

and authorities were seeking two additional alleged members and associates of the 2-6 street gang.

Altogether, 19 defendants, including Francisco Masias, an alleged high-ranking leader of a faction

of the 2-6 street gang, were arrested or being sought on federal cocaine and marijuana charges.
Those arrested yesterday remain in federal custody pending further court proceedings on Monday

before Magistrate Judge Susan Cox in U.S. District Court.

During the operation yesterday, officers and agents seized four rifles, eight handguns,

ammunition, more than $21,000, nearly a kilogram of cocaine, approximately a half-kilo of

marijuana, as well as marijuana plants.

Previously during the investigation, law enforcement obtained approximately eight kilos of

cocaine, 101 marijuana plants worth more than $1 million, and more than 200 ecstasy tablets from

various defendants through seizures and controlled purchases, and seized 17 handguns, as well as

an assault rifle, from several of them.

“We continue to exert pressure on street gang-controlled retail sales of narcotics,” said

Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. “This case shows

the dangerous combination of gangs, guns and drugs, which afflict our community and must be

stopped,” he added.

Mr. Fitzgerald announced the charges together with Jody P. Weis, Superintendent of the

Chicago Police Department; John J. Riley, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division

of the DEA; Alvin Patton, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal

Investigation Division in Chicago; and Anita Alvarez, Cook County State’s Attorney. The U.S.

Marshals Service assisted with the arrests. The investigation, initiated by the Chicago Police

Department’s Gang Investigations Unit, was conducted under the umbrella of U.S. Organized Crime

Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), and with assistance from the High Intensity Drug

Trafficking Area Task Force (HIDTA). The investigation is continuing the officials said.

 “The Chicago Police Department will continue to work with our state and federal partners

to investigate those allegedly responsible for victimizing our communities as we strive to improve

the quality of life for all Chicago residents,” Superintendent Weis said.

The investigation, code-named Operation Shady Business, which began in June 2009, is part

of a sustained, coordinated effort by local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to dismantle

the leadership of Chicago’s highly-organized, and often-violent, drug-trafficking street gangs. The

investigation employed wiretaps, cooperating witnesses, undercover surveillance and drug

transactions, and a steady progression of searches and seizures of evidence.

An eight-count criminal complaint filed Tuesday and unsealed yesterday alleges that the 2-6

street gang operates violent, well-organized drug-trafficking activities in the Little Village area

between Kostner and Hamlin, and 33rd and 24th streets, according to a 169-page affidavit by a

Chicago police officer assigned to a DEA task force.

According to the complaint affidavit, Masias obtained cocaine from multiple suppliers,

including Teodoro Gorostieta, Juan Maldonado and Francisco Montemayor. Gorostieta and

Montemayor “fronted” the cocaine to Masias, supplying it on credit with the understanding that

Masias would pay for it after he sold it to his distributors. The charges allege that Montemayor, in

particular, was involved in the sale of multiple kilograms of cocaine during the last eight or nine

years. In turn, Masias fronted the cocaine to Jose Maldonado, Michael Vaca, Edwin Rodriguez,

Randy Ramirez, and Jose Garcia for further distribution.

Jose Maldonado (Maldonado) allegedly was one of Masias’ main distributors of cocaine and

also assisted him in distributing firearms. Masias and Maldonado often worked together to

distribute the cocaine, including sharing in profits and coordinating deliveries to customers,

according to the charges. Maldonado allegedly also distributed cocaine to Carlos Hernandez

Ramirez, Rodriguez, Vaca and others.

The charges allege that Vaca obtained cocaine from both Masias and Maldonado, usually

on consignment, meaning that he paid for the cocaine after he sold it. Vaca then allegedly

distributed cocaine to Steven Dragon and others, including 12 sales to an undercover law

enforcement officer.

According to the affidavit, in January 2010, Vaca arranged for Dragon to trade his Audi A6

to Masias in exchange for a kilogram of cocaine that Dragon and Vaca split. On Jan. 14, 2010, after

Dragon picked up his half-kilo from Vaca, Dragon was stopped by police while driving a black

BMW at Belmont and Broadway. Officers told Dragon that he was stopped because he and his

vehicle matched a description of an individual wanted in a purse-snatching in the vicinity moments

earlier. Dragon accompanied officers to a ruse line-up a few blocks away, during which time

officers and agents searched Dagon’s car and seized approximately 530 grams of cocaine in two

plastic bags from the trunk. About 15 minutes later, officers returned Dragon to his car and

surveillance observed him as he appeared frantic while talking on the telephone. The affidavit

details excerpts of two 911 phone calls that Dragon made to police to report this car was robbed

while he was participating in the police line-up, as well as another phone call that he made to Vaca

about the stolen cocaine. Vaca then subsequently called Masias to tell him what had happened to

Dragon, the affidavit alleges.

In addition to his cocaine business, Masias allegedly operated a marijuana grow house, a

home located at 7010 West 74th Place, in Chicago, where he oversaw the cultivation of more than

100 marijuana plants in three bedrooms, the kitchen, living room and a utility room inside the house.

At Masias’ direction, Adrian Bernal, Efrain Diaz, Andrew Vela, Shaun Dodson, and Jason

Herrera ran the operations of the grow house, including taking care of the marijuana plants,

overseeing workers, and providing security. Masias allegedly intended to distribute the marijuana

harvested from the plants to Garcia so that Garcia could resell that marijuana.

On June 30, 2010, officers and agents executed a state search warrant at the grow house and

seized 101 mature marijuana plants, with an estimated street value of $1 million, and a loaded .40

caliber Glock semi-automatic handgun, which was within arm’s reach of Herrera, who lived at the

house and served as security, according to the affidavit.

Masias also provided firearms to other defendants, including Maldonado, Rodriguez,

Covarrubias, Bernal, and Diaz, the charges allege, adding that he also obtained firearms from Vela,

who stored guns on Masias’ behalf. The affidavit alleges that Masias, Vela, Diaz, Bernal and others

practiced shooting at a gun range in Ottawa, Ill. The affidavit also details recorded conversations

in May in which Masias allegedly boasted about having used guns and being a great marksman.

During other recorded conversations in early 2010 between Masias and Maldonado, they allegedly

discussed acts of violence against rival gang members.

State narcotics charges were filed against five additional defendants, four in Cook County

and one in LaSalle County.

If convicted, those defendants charged with conspiracy to distribute, or possession with

intent to distribute, more than 500 grams of cocaine, or manufacturing more than 100 marijuana

plants, face a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison and a maximum of 40 years and a

maximum fine of $2 million. Defendants charged with possession of cocaine with intent to

distribute face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1million fine. Note, however, that

the Court would determine the appropriate sentence to be imposed under the advisory United States

Sentencing Guidelines.

The government is being represented by Assistant United States Attorneys Marny Zimmer,

Jeff Perconte and Matthew Madden.

The public is reminded that a complaint contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt.

The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has

the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

A list of the federal defendants (with best known ages and last known residences) and their

charged roles in the complaint follows:

Count One: conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, Jan 11-14, 2010

Francisco Masias, aka “Swoll” and “Cisco,” 31, of Berwyn

Jose Maldonado, aka “Spook,” 32, of Chicago
Teodoro Gorostieta, 23, unknown
Carlos Hernandez Ramirez, aka “Jesse Martinez” and “Jesse,” 51, of Chicago

Count Two: possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, May 20, 2010

Randy Ramirez, 31, of Chicago

Juan Maldonado, 19, unknown
Ruben Tello, 21, of Chicago

Count Three: possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine,
June 19, 2010

Francisco Montemayor, aka “Kiko,” 29, of Cicero

Count Four: possession with intent to distribute cocaine, Feb. 1, 2010

Edwin Rodriguez, 24, of Riverside

Denise Aceves, 22, of Riverside

Count Five: possession with intent to distribute cocaine, Jan. 16, 2010

6
 Jorge Covarrubias, 31, of Chicago

Count Six: possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, April 21, 2010

Jose Garcia, aka “Beast,” 40, of Chicago

Count Seven: conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine,

Dec. 7, 2009 - Jan. 14, 2010

Michael Vaca, aka “Mikey,” 31, of Chicago

Steven Dragon, 30, of Comstock Park, Mich.

Count Eight: manufacturing more than 100 marijuana plants, April - June 30,2010

Jason Herrera, aka “J,” 29, of Berwyn

Efrain Diaz aka “Fro,” 31, of Chicago

Andrew Vela, aka “Drew,” 29,of Berwyn and Newark, Ill.

Adrian Bernal,aka “T,” 27, of Chicago

Shaun Dodson, 28, of Burbank

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