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Over two dozen individuals are facing narcotics charges following an investigation into gang related drug sales in Chicago’s Uptown Neighborhood, according to the Office of Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez.

Dubbed “Operation Uptown Girl,” the investigation was initiated as a result of an increase in violence by street gangs engaging in narcotics sales in that neighborhood. The operation began last March after a significant increase in gang activity including fights, shootings and several homicides were occurring in the neighborhood.

Investigators focused on narcotics activity being conducted by individuals affiliated with the Conservative Vice Lords and Gangster Disciples on Sheridan near Wilson and Lawrence. Undercover officers made numerous purchases of narcotics from these individuals that they recorded using audio and video surveillance.

According to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, the defendants are all facing drug-related charges which carry potential criminal penalties of three to 15 years in prison.  All of those charged are scheduled to appear in court Thursday at the Cook County Criminal Courts Building at 26th and California.

Three additional defendants have been charged as juveniles. Arrest warrants have been issued for the defendants that remain at large. Police began making arrests yesterday and those taken in to custody appeared in court this morning where their bonds were set as follows:

• Burbridge, David, 46, of Chicago. $50,000
• Carvajal, Michelle, 33, of Chicago. $100,000
• Forrest, Victor, 23, of Chicago. $250,000
• Griffin, Darrell, 24, of Chicago. $250,000
• Hammond, Mario, 28, of Chicago. $150,000
• Jones, Keith, 20, of Chicago. $50,000
• Kadoni, Jesaja, 51, of Chicago. $75,000
• Kendall, Kaleif aka Whitfield, Kaleif, 21, of Chicago. $500,000
• Lawrence, Leslie, 29, of Chicago. $300,000
• Moss, William, 30, of Chicago. $250,000
• Seals, Javian, 26, Chicago. $150,000
• Smith, Gregory, 20, of Chicago. $200,000
• Villanueva, David, 18, of Chicago. $150,000
• Wright, Mary, 37, of Chicago. $250,000

State’s Attorney Alvarez thanked the Chicago Police Department’s Gang and Narcotics Units as well Assistant State’s Attorneys Allison Eastland and Dan Fahlgren of the Complex Narcotics Unit for their hard work on this investigation.

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