CHICAGO – A six-person drug operation peddling fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine on Chicago streets is facing serious federal time after a grand jury handed down a superseding indictment this week. The investigation, spearheaded by the FBI and bolstered by multiple local law enforcement agencies, alleges a widespread conspiracy to distribute the deadly drugs throughout the city in 2024.
The indictment names ANDRE DEBRUCE, 40, of Schiller Park, Ill.; TERRANCE PATTON, 40, of Chicago; CRAIG CALDWELL, 43, of Chicago; TIMOTHY BELIN, 48, of Chicago; JENNIFER WORD, 39, of Chicago; and DENOMOIUS WELLS, 41, of Chicago. All six are charged with conspiracy to distribute narcotics, but the legal trouble doesn’t stop there for two of them.
Patton and Caldwell, both previously convicted felons, are facing firearm charges for illegally possessing semiautomatic handguns. The heat is particularly turned up on Caldwell, who is also accused of possessing a firearm *in furtherance* of drug trafficking – a charge that significantly elevates the stakes. If convicted, Caldwell could spend the rest of his life in federal prison, with a mandatory minimum of five years.
The potential sentences are steep across the board. Patton and Debruce each face a maximum of 40 years behind bars, with a mandatory minimum of five. Belin, Word, and Wells are looking at up to 20 years, though without the mandatory minimum. Wells entered a plea of not guilty during his arraignment on Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge M. David Weisman. All five other defendants have also pleaded not guilty.
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Andrew S. Boutros, and FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Douglas S. DePodesta announced the indictment, highlighting the case as part of “Operation Take Back America,” a nationwide initiative designed to dismantle violent crime and drug operations. Assistance was also provided by IRS Criminal Investigation, the Chicago Police Department, and the Evanston, Ill. Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hayley Altabef and Adam Rosenbloom are prosecuting the case.
It’s crucial to remember that an indictment is merely an accusation, not proof of guilt. These defendants are presumed innocent and will have the opportunity to defend themselves in court. The government bears the burden of proving their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. But if convicted, this crew will be off Chicago streets for a long, long time.
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Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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