9 Charged in Joliet Heroin and Cocaine Ring

CHICAGO – In a major blow to the Joliet narcotics trade, nine individuals are facing criminal charges as part of a joint federal and state investigation into heroin and cocaine sales in the Joliet area.

According to authorities, the probe involved intercepting cellphone communications between the defendants, conducting extensive surveillance, and seizing several items, including three firearms, more than three kilograms of cocaine, more than 60 grams of heroin, approximately $90,000 in illicit cash proceeds, and several vehicles.

The investigation was conducted under the umbrella of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, whose principal mission is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations.

Seven defendants are charged in U.S. District Court in Chicago in conspiracies to possess controlled substances with the intent to distribute. Two defendants are charged in Will County with state drug offenses.

Several of the federal defendants were arrested last week and have made initial appearances in federal court in Chicago. The state defendants will appear in Will County Circuit Court at a later time.

The federal charges were announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Jeffrey S. Sallet, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Charged with federal conspiracies are WILLIAM NOBLES, 51, of Joliet; JARON NABORS, 38, of Joliet; ERICKA PRUITTE, 38, of Joliet; KALVIN STEWART, 51, of Aurora; GREGORY WARFIELD, 67, of Joliet; CAESAR ESTRADA, 44, of Joliet; and LUIS CONTRERAS, 40, of Joliet. Charged in state court are TASHAUN M. MCCARTER, 40, of Joliet; and DAVID L. WHITE, 53, of Joliet.

The federal conspiracy charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.