Gang Members Accused of Selling Drugs Laced With Lethal Painkiller
Associated Press
Thursday, June 22, 2006; Page A17
CHICAGO, June 21 -- Federal prosecutors on Wednesday charged more than three dozen members of a Chicago street gang with running a drug ring that sold crack cocaine, marijuana, heroin and the potentially lethal prescription painkiller fentanyl.
In recent months, fentanyl-laced heroin has been blamed for more than 200 overdose-related deaths across the eastern half of the country, including at least 70 in the Chicago area.
Much of the fentanyl seized in the investigation was packaged for individual use, but none of the seized heroin was found to be mixed with fentanyl, authorities said. The legally produced painkiller is 80 times stronger than morphine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Shapiro alleged that the Mickey Cobras gang marketed its drugs to take advantage of the deadly heroin's notoriety, selling products with names such as "Max Pain," "Lethal Injection," "Fear Factor," "Drop Dead" and "Final Call."
"They carry niche marketing to its extreme," Shapiro said. "They sell branded heroin."
None of the defendants had been charged with the fentanyl deaths, he said.
In a series of raids on Wednesday, agents seized more than 100 kilograms of heroin, five firearms, four vehicles and an undetermined amount of cash, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. More than 400 federal and local law enforcement officers were involved.
The criminal complaint charged 47 members and associates of the gang with conspiracy to possess and distribute heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana and fentanyl.
By early afternoon, 30 people had been arrested, including a Chicago police officer. Tashika Sledge, 29, was accused of having a relationship with a gang leader and of supplying information about police activity.
Police spokeswoman Monique Bond said that many arrests took place at the Dearborn Homes public housing complex, a gang stronghold a few miles south of the Loop, but that the alleged drug ring extends to nearby states. Many of the fatal overdoses tied to fentanyl and heroin occurred earlier this year at Dearborn Homes.
The investigation involved wiretaps, search warrants and drug buys, authorities said. Before Wednesday's arrests, authorities had seized or bought four kilos of heroin, 309 grams of fentanyl, cash and six firearms.
The Mickey Cobras were formed during the 1960s under the name Cobrastones and joined a coalition of smaller street gangs, officials said. The group changed its name to Mickey Cobras after member Mickey Cogwell was shot to death in 1976 during a struggle for leadership of the coalition.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... rss_nation
CHI: Gang Members Accused of Selling Lethal Heroin
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Christina Marie
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Christina Marie
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Drug Sweep Defendants Appear In Court
Police Officer Charged Arranged To Post Bond
(AP) CHICAGO A Chicago police officer swept up in the crackdown on the Mickey Cobras' street gang appeared in federal court Thursday and arranged to post $10,000 bond.
Tashika Sledge, 29, was among 47 people charged Wednesday with conspiracy to possess and distribute heroin and other drugs. Federal prosecutors contend the officer had a personal relationship with a top gang leader and fed him information about police activity.
A total of 31 alleged gang members and associates are in custody while authorities search for the rest.
Twenty-four of those charged made their first court appearances before U.S. Magistrate Martin Ashman in three different groups. They did not enter pleas. Most were wearing orange jumpsuits, and family members of several defendants cried openly in the gallery.
Five other defendants are in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections or Cook County sheriff's office, and two more are in custody in other states, including alleged gang leader James Austin, 29, of Akron, Ohio, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Monika Bickert.
Sledge and Robbie Sykes, 46, -- described by authorities as a low-level worker in the gang -- were the only ones granted bail Thursday. Bond hearings for the rest of the defendants in federal custody were scheduled for early next week.
Sledge and Sykes were both ordered to avoid contact with their co-defendants.
Sledge's attorney, Kent Carlson, said he had not had a chance to meet with his client but thought she was a "good candidate" for release on bond and was glad prosecutors agreed.
Federal prosecutors allege the Mickey Cobras sold "brands" of heroin under names such as "Reaper," "Lethal Injection" and "Girls Gone Wild." The gang also sold crack cocaine, marijuana and the potentially lethal prescription painkiller fentanyl, according to authorities.
http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local ... 84723.html
Police Officer Charged Arranged To Post Bond
(AP) CHICAGO A Chicago police officer swept up in the crackdown on the Mickey Cobras' street gang appeared in federal court Thursday and arranged to post $10,000 bond.
Tashika Sledge, 29, was among 47 people charged Wednesday with conspiracy to possess and distribute heroin and other drugs. Federal prosecutors contend the officer had a personal relationship with a top gang leader and fed him information about police activity.
A total of 31 alleged gang members and associates are in custody while authorities search for the rest.
Twenty-four of those charged made their first court appearances before U.S. Magistrate Martin Ashman in three different groups. They did not enter pleas. Most were wearing orange jumpsuits, and family members of several defendants cried openly in the gallery.
Five other defendants are in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections or Cook County sheriff's office, and two more are in custody in other states, including alleged gang leader James Austin, 29, of Akron, Ohio, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Monika Bickert.
Sledge and Robbie Sykes, 46, -- described by authorities as a low-level worker in the gang -- were the only ones granted bail Thursday. Bond hearings for the rest of the defendants in federal custody were scheduled for early next week.
Sledge and Sykes were both ordered to avoid contact with their co-defendants.
Sledge's attorney, Kent Carlson, said he had not had a chance to meet with his client but thought she was a "good candidate" for release on bond and was glad prosecutors agreed.
Federal prosecutors allege the Mickey Cobras sold "brands" of heroin under names such as "Reaper," "Lethal Injection" and "Girls Gone Wild." The gang also sold crack cocaine, marijuana and the potentially lethal prescription painkiller fentanyl, according to authorities.
http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local ... 84723.html
