3-year probe nets 96 charges against 16 Aurora-area gang members

A nearly three-year investigation by several law enforcement agencies has resulted in 96 drug and firearm charges against 16 Aurora-area gang members, authorities announced Friday.

Seven of the 16 men were taken into custody Thursday, when approximately 90 Aurora police officers and FBI special agents executed arrest warrants at the suspects' homes or places they were known to frequent. Five of the men had previously been arrested, two were already in jail and two remain at large.

During the investigation, 13 firearms and nearly 22 ounces of cocaine were seized. A total of 96 felony charges were filed against the men, including 32 Class X felonies that call for enhanced penalties upon conviction.

All of the felonies are state charges and will be prosecuted by the Kane County state's attorney, who conducted the investigation along with Aurora police and the FBI. Police said the majority of the investigation's targets had documented criminal histories involving narcotics, weapons and other violent offenses.

One of the suspects, Caleb A. Frazier, 24, of the 200 block of Forest Avenue in Aurora, faces 21 felony counts, including possession of a firearm by a gang member, unlawful sale or delivery of a firearm, unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and gunrunning, among others.

Frazier and Julio C. Charez, 23, of the 100 block of Woodlawn Avenue in Aurora, were two key targets during the investigation. Both were taken into custody Wednesday. The three other Aurora men who were previously arrested were Christian A. Escamilia, 29, of the 2000 block of Best Place; Juan A. Gomez, 41, of the 1100 block of Alameda Drive; and Christopher Rosario, 37, of the 200 block of O'Malley Court.

The Aurora men taken into custody on Thursday were: Jose Sanchez, 19, of the 200 block of Forest Avenue; Alexander Briseno, 27, of the 400 block of Superior Street; Juan E. Ibarra, 21, of the 1000 block of North Avenue; Jose Gallegos, 21, of the 700 block of Hammond Avenue; Miguel A. Rios, 38, of the 900 block of Liberty Street; Rodrigo Sanchez, 24, of the 500 block of Hankes Avenue; and Jorge Yanez, 22, of the 400 block of Grove Street.

The two men already in Illinois Department of Corrections custody, on unrelated charges, were Noel DeLuna, 22, who last lived on the 900 block of Zengele Avenue in Aurora, and Paul Benavides, 38, whose last known address was on the 200 block of Arrowhead Drive in North Aurora.

Police are still searching for two Aurora men: Leonel A. Martinez, 29, whose last known address was on the 2400 block of Devonshire Court, and Alvaro Robledo, 22, who listed an address on the 500 block of Hoyles Street.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Martinez or Robledo is asked to call Aurora police at (630) 256-5600. To remain anonymous and qualify for a reward of up to $5,000 by providing information that leads to an arrest, call Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at (630) 892-1000.