Federal prosecutors on Thursday announced drug trafficking charges against 10 members or associates of the Four Corner Hustlers street gang.
The investigation, dubbed “Operation American Hustle,” resulted in the seizure of “multiple kilograms” of heroin, cocaine and 10 firearms, including a MAC-10 submachine gun, federal authorities said.
Led by Homeland Security Investigations and the Chicago Police Department, the probe stretched from February 2021 to April 2022 and relied on “undercover and covert operations,” including buying narcotics at three open-air drug markets in West Garfield Park that were ultimately shut down, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
U.S. Attorney John Lausch said the goal was to “dismantle” an operation that profited from selling “extremely potent drugs that have wreaked havoc in too many of our communities across the country and right here in Chicago.” He noted that some of the heroin that was recovered contained fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid.
A complaint filed Tuesday charged all 10 men with federal drug conspiracy, which carries a possible life sentence. They have all appeared in court and remain in custody, prosecutors said.
They are Nathaniel Evans, 38, of Aurora; Jarelle Jones, 24, of Forest Park; Marquis Jones, 29, of Chicago; Devontay Logan, 27, of Chicago; Joseph Williams, 31, of Chicago; Dornell Williams, 34, of Chicago; Teremius Webb, 25, of Chicago; Antonio Fletcher, 40, of Chicago; Kyle Linton, 25, of Chicago; and Maurice Bell, 40, of Chicago.
In addition, Lausch said 21 other people were hit with state drug charges in Cook County court.
Prosecutors said Evans directed the operation and oversaw the three drug markets in the 3900 blocks of West Jackson Boulevard and West Van Buren Street and the 4000 block of West Maypole Avenue.
Jarelle Jones, Marquis Jones, Joseph Williams and Dornell Williams worked as “shift managers,” watching sales at those sites throughout the day, prosecutors said.
Logan allegedly got the drugs from suppliers, took them to the market on Jackson and collected cash from the sales. Bell similarly obtained drugs for the operation on Maypole, while Webb, Fletcher and Linton were street dealers, prosecutors said.
Investigators made numerous undercover purchases at the drug spots, where narcotics were typically sold in small baggies costing $10, prosecutors said.
The efforts culminated in the seizures of large amounts of cocaine and heroin that sometimes contained fentanyl, prosecutors said. Also recovered were four rifles, four handguns, a shotgun, the MAC-10 and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
CPD First Deputy Supt. Eric Carter said officers and agents collaborated “to tackle a national problem: drugs, gangs and guns driving violence.”
“Families and residents of all ages, from schoolchildren to senior citizens, were impacted and intimidated on a daily basis. ... We know this work is only a piece of the puzzle in building a safer city, but every piece is essential when it comes to our future,” he said.
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