Dozens held in drug ring operating on block targeted in '90s Fed probe
Lawndale drug ring
Charges against alleged members of Lawndale drug-distribution ring. (U.S. attorney's office)
Liam FordContact Reporter
Chicago Tribune
More than 50 people, most alleged members of the Traveling Vice Lords street gang, are charged in connection with a drug ring operating in the Lawndale neighborhood, including on a block that was the focus of a 1990s federal prosecution of the same gang, authorities said Thursday.

The federal and city investigation, “Operation Shut Travel Down,” began in 2015, and ended in February with authorities confiscating about 8 pounds of heroin, 4.5 pounds of methamphetamine and about 1.2 pounds of cocaine and crack cocaine, according to a news release Thursday from the U.S. attorney’s office. Of those targeted in the investigation, 11 are charged in federal court--including the owner of a barber shop that was used as a stash house for drugs--- and 40 are charged in state court.

The gang members operated open-air drug markets in the area of California Avenue and Lexington Street, including on the 2700 block of West Flournoy Street, according to one of the federal complaints in the case. The block on Flournoy was the focus of a drug operation dismantled by a mid-1990s undercover investigation of the Traveling Vice Lords. The months-long trial of those charged in the case ended with the conviction of 15 people and life sentences for at least 10 people, including two brothers who supervised the drug sales.

Among those charged this week in complaints released Thursday were Tyrone Hunter, 38, the owner of Brother’s Barber Shop, 914 S. Western Ave., one of two stash houses raided by investigators Thursday, according to the release. The other supervisor of the drug operation was Anthony Williams, 32, while investigators also raided the home of street-level overseer of drug sales Calvin Williams, 41, in the 2800 block of West Harrison Street, and a stash house in the 2700 according to the charges against them.

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Two men identified as suppliers of the drugs, Sir Charles Bland, 38, of Bolingbrook, and Salvador Rojas-Santos, 63, of Mexico, are charged with selling heroin and cocaine to Williams and Hunter for the street-level drug sales, according to the release and the charges.

Investigators set up surveillance of those involved in the drug sales, tapped phones used in the operation, made undercover audio and video recordings and used confidential informants in the investigation, according to the charges.

Locations the group--including a “younger, more violent” Traveling Vice Lords called the Cali Boys--dealt drugs included California and Harrison Street, and the 2700 to 2800 blocks of Flournoy, Polk and Lexington streets, according to one of the complaints.

Seven of those charged, including Anthony Williams, Tyrone Hunter and Calvin Williams, face heroin- and cocaine-distribution conspiracy charges; Bland is charged with distribution of cocaine; and Rojas-Santos is possession with intent to distribute, and possession of a weapon by an illegal alien.

Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS and Chicago police investigators were involved in the probe, including investigators from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, and the federal High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, which bring together local and federal investigators.

Some of those arrested appeared in federal court Thursday, while others were expected to appear in court Friday, according to prosecutors.

Good Post Scorsese

TVLs are preassumbly the 2nd largest VL branch with decks on both Westside & Southside. They're quite known for fueding heavy against GDs and few others now. Matter of fact TVL have a large sizable turfs.

Westside decks & cliques are not that well known compared to Southside decks/cliques in regards to local rap scene.

Here's a court cade from the 90s operation :
http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-7th-circuit/1432822.html

Almighty Vice Lord Nation bosses sent to prison – Murdered suspected snitch in broad daylight https://gangstersinc.org/2024/12/31...ered-suspected-snitch-in-broad-daylight/

I am noticing this for the first time, Scorsese's link he put up showed something interesting: The ages. A lot of these street gangs or independent gangs with names tend to be very young, this group ranges in age from late 30's to their 60's.