CHICAGO, IL – Eleven individuals are facing federal drug trafficking charges after a months-long investigation into the La Familia Stones street gang’s operation in Chicago, primarily in the Albany Park neighborhood. The operation, which involved a dedicated telephone “hotline” for crack cocaine orders, has been effectively shut down, authorities announced Friday.
The feds took down EDUART HOXHA, 35, of Chicago, also known as “Finn” and “White Boy”; ALEXIS DEL TORO, 24, of Elmwood Park, also known as “Tony”; FREDDY DEL TORO, 27, of Elmwood Park, also known as “Fredo” and “Ricky”; BRYAN DEL TORO, 22, of Elmwood Park; ALEX HERNANDEZ, 24, of Chicago, also known as “Joey” and “Biggie”; HADER GARCIA, 19, of Chicago, also known as “Luis”; RUBEN VALENCIA, 22, of Chicago; KARINA JIMENEZ, 35, of Chicago, also known as “Kay Kay” and “Rina”; KEVIN RAMIREZ, 27, of Evanston; JONAS CASTILLO, 26, of Chicago, also known as “Guero”; and JESENIA CALLE, 20, of Chicago, also known as “J-Dog.” Two of the defendants are already facing murder charges in Cook County court and remain in state custody.
According to a criminal complaint unsealed March 2, 2023, the defendants allegedly conspired to distribute crack cocaine between December 2021 and November 2022. Customers would call the hotline to place orders, which were then fulfilled by one of the accused. Law enforcement officials seized “hundreds of grams” of crack cocaine and a significant number of firearms during the investigation, though specific quantities were not released. All but one of the defendants have been apprehended; a warrant remains outstanding for one individual.
The bust was a collaborative effort, led by U.S. Attorney John R. Lausch, Jr. and involving the DEA, ATF, and Chicago Police Department. The CPD’s Narcotics Division initiated the initial investigation, which then expanded with assistance from the DEA and ATF. The IRS Criminal Investigation Division, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Chicago High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Investigative Support Center, Illinois National Guard, Skokie Police Department, and Elmwood Park Police Department also contributed.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ramon Villalpando, Ann Marie Ursini, and Adam Rosenbloom are prosecuting the case. While the charges are significant, authorities are quick to remind the public that a complaint only alleges wrongdoing. Each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, sentencing will be determined based on federal guidelines and statutes.
This case is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDET) program, a multi-agency initiative aimed at dismantling major drug trafficking organizations. The operation highlights the continued prevalence of open-air drug markets and gang activity on Chicago’s North Side, and the ongoing efforts to combat it, even as other areas of the city face escalating violence.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Press Release
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