Harriette McPherson, 46, of Chicago, and two of her sons — Rakim Asad, 26, and Sincere Brannon, 19 — are among 11 defendants charged in a sweeping federal drug and gun investigation that dismantled a South Side narcotics network. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, and Chicago Police Department announced the charges after a multi-year probe tied the group to cocaine and marijuana trafficking, firearm possession, and violent drug-related crimes across Cook County.
Law enforcement seized a staggering arsenal: 29 firearms, ammunition, a machete with sheath, approximately one kilogram of cocaine, 78 pounds of marijuana, over $190,000 in suspected drug cash, and luxury items valued at more than $300,000 — including diamond jewelry, Rolex watches, and designer clothing. Much of the operation centered on the South Side, where McPherson and Asad allegedly conspired with Derrick McNeal, 46, to distribute narcotics. Asad faces an additional charge of possessing a loaded handgun in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Asad’s indictment details flashy symbols of his alleged criminal life: a Rolex watch and two necklaces with 14-carat gold pendants inscribed with “LAFA” in diamonds — a suspected nod to the LAFA street gang. Prosecutors say the initials tie him directly to organized street violence and drug operations. Brannon, also McPherson’s son, is charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, stacking federal penalties that could bring life in prison.
Four defendants — Kelvin Everett, 38, Gregory Blackwell, 29, Quincy Wright, 37, and Jerry Peoples, 42, all of Chicago — are accused of attempting to rob a drug dealer in Bridgeview on June 13, 2017. They allegedly brandished a loaded rifle and handgun during the botched heist. All four are convicted felons, making their firearm possession illegal. The robbery conspiracy charge carries up to life in prison if convicted.
Rachad Lucas, 38, of Calumet City, allegedly stored controlled substances in a storage unit while possessing marijuana with intent to distribute. He’s charged with possessing a handgun in furtherance of drug trafficking and illegal firearm possession as a felon. Three others — Rachad Underwood, 42, Calvin Woods, 28, and Brannon — face various drug distribution counts. All arrests were made last week; detention hearings are underway in U.S. District Court in Chicago.
The charges, led by U.S. Attorney John R. Lausch, Jr., FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Jeffrey S. Sallet, and CPD Superintendent Eddie Johnson, were supported by IRS Criminal Investigation, Cook County Sheriff’s Department, and multiple suburban police forces. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ankur Srivastava and Sheri Wong are prosecuting. The government warns: charges are not proof of guilt. Defendants are presumed innocent. Penalties range from 20 years to life in prison under federal sentencing laws.
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Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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