Prairie State Wire

A federal investigation in Chicago targeting the sale of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine has led to a grand jury returning drug and firearm charges against six individuals. A superseding indictment was filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago, accusing these defendants of conspiring to distribute drugs within the city in 2024. Two among them face additional firearm offenses for illegal possession of semiautomatic handguns as convicted felons.

The individuals charged with drug conspiracy include Andre Debruce from Schiller Park, Illinois; Terrance Patton, Craig Caldwell, Timothy Belin, Jennifer Word, and Denomoius Wells from Chicago. Patton and Caldwell are further charged with illegal firearm possession due to previous felony convictions. Additionally, Caldwell is accused of possessing a firearm in connection with drug trafficking.

Caldwell faces charges that could result in a life sentence in federal prison with a mandatory minimum term of five years. Patton and Debruce could receive up to 40-year sentences with a similar mandatory minimum. Belin, Word, and Wells each face potential sentences of up to 20 years without mandatory minimum terms.

All six defendants have been arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge M. David Weisman and have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

The announcement came from Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, alongside Douglas S. DePodesta from the FBI's Chicago Field Office. Additional support was provided by IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago as well as police departments from Chicago and Evanston, Illinois. The prosecution team includes Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hayley Altabef and Adam Rosenbloom.

This case forms part of Operation Take Back America—an initiative aimed at protecting communities by utilizing resources from various Department of Justice programs focused on combating violent crime.

It is important to note that an indictment consists only of charges without serving as evidence of guilt; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt at trial.