Federal law enforcement arrested two suspected gang members and seized eleven firearms, ammunition, and twenty machine gun conversion devices from a residence in Chicago earlier this week, according to a March 27 announcement.
The arrests of Julian Torres, 19, and Brandon Osorio, 29, come amid ongoing efforts to address illegal firearms trafficking and related criminal activity in the city. Both men have been charged with possession of a machine gun following a court-authorized search of their home in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood on the Southwest Side.
According to criminal complaints filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago, agents discovered a short-barrel rifle and ten handguns during the search. One handgun was equipped with an extended magazine. Agents also found twenty machine gun conversion devices that can enable semi-automatic weapons to fire multiple rounds with one trigger pull. Additional ammunition and firearm accessories were also recovered at the scene.
During a detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez on Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirsten Moran said that Torres and Osorio are members of the 31st and Morgan Satan’s Disciples street gang. The gang is alleged to be involved in illegal firearms trafficking, drug distribution, and other offenses. Moran said their residence served as a hub for these activities.
The arrests were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI Chicago Field Office; and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. The Illinois Secretary of State Police and Illinois Army National Guard Counterdrug Program assisted with the investigation.
Officials emphasized that both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
