Nine suburban gang members arrested in sweep, authorities say

Nine members of the Addison faction of the Almighty Gaylords gang have been charged with illegally possessing or selling firearms to a felon after an 18-month undercover investigation involving a former gang member turned informant, authorities said.

Those arrested during a sweep Tuesday were the 40-year-old leader of the Addison faction, an Antioch couple, two Villa Park residents, a Lombard man, an Elmhurst man, a second Addison man and a Wisconsin man, according to prosecutors.

During the investigation, the onetime Gaylords member, who was working undercover providing video and audio recordings of conversations and transactions, purchased thousands of rounds of ammunition and 11 firearms, including an AK-47 assault rifle from a number of the suspects, according to prosecutors.

Three separate criminal complaints were unsealed in federal court Tuesday detailing the crimes.

James Grace, 40, whom authorities call the leader of the Addison faction, was charged with illegally possessing a handgun as a felon and with selling a handgun to the undercover informant in February.

Edward Rand, 46 of Antioch, and Daniel Springhorn, 56 of Sharon, Wis., were found to have purchased and distributed firearms to Gaylords in the Chicago area, according to a complaint. Prosecutors said Springhorn, who is not a felon, purchased the guns legally at gun shows in Wisconsin for Rand and other gang members who were felons.

A search warrant executed at Springhorn's Wisconsin farm Tuesday where the gang stored weapons and practiced shooting found numerous firearms, according to prosecutors.

Additional search warrants were executed at homes in Elmhurst and Lombard on Tuesday.

Rand and Springhorn are charged with selling the informant an AK-47, 2,400 rounds of ammo for the assault rifle, six 50-round magazines, a .22 caliber bolt action rifle and a .12 gauge shotgun, according to prosecutors.

Others charged in the operation were Rand's wife, Brenda Rand, 46, who authorities say was with her husband when the bolt action rifle and shotgun were sold; Joseph Kruzel, 42, of Lombard; Sergio Toutges, 39, of Villa Park; Jennifer Millhorn, 24, of Villa Park; Bobby Price, 50, of Elmhurst; and Christopher Battaglia, 27, of Addison. All suspects were charged with either possessing a firearm as a felon or selling a weapon to the informant, who was a known felon.

All of the charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.