Feds arrest 10 in Schaumburg-based coke ring

Ten people, most from the Northwest suburbs, were arrested on federal drug charges at their homes Tuesday morning while three more remained at large late in the day.

The coordinated raids came at the wrap-up of a nearly three-year investigation of a cocaine-sale operation largely based in Schaumburg's commercial district.

"The investigation reached the point where we wanted to limit the amount of drugs on the street," said FBI Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge William Monroe.

The alleged distributor of the operation, Robert Atkins, of the 2200 block of Mayfair Avenue in Westchester, is believed to have used the Woodfield and Streets of Woodfield parking lot areas as well as the Wise Hand Car Wash he previously owned at 1811 W. Wise Road in Schaumburg as distribution points.

Atkins, 37, was the primary target of the investigation the FBI and eight assisting police departments dubbed "Operation Sitt'n Ducks."

Atkins is believed to have owned the Schaumburg car wash until recently, as well as a Chicago recording studio called Krunch Tyme Entertainment, Monroe said.

The suspects were charged Tuesday with conspiracy to distribute powder or crack cocaine.

Along with the arrests, eight kilograms of cocaine conservatively worth $200,000 were recovered, along with $100,000 in cash from suspected drug sales and five late-model luxury vehicles.

Yecenia Avila, 26, of the 300 block of Exmoore in Streamwood was particularly singled as being a supplier of cocaine to Atkins.

Others arrested and charged were Trevail Banks, 26, of the 1000 block of Stonehedge Drive, Schaumburg; Shannon Bennet, 29, of the 1000 block of East 80th Street, Chicago; Kenton Bradley, 33, of the 5500 block of Montibello, Hanover Park; Robert Green, 41, of the 800 block of Holyoke Court, Schaumburg; Randy Hamlette, 39, of the 800 block of Holyoke Court, Schaumburg; Yuliet Nava, 24, of the 300 block of Dundee, Elgin; Robert Wasp, 37, of the 1900 block of Oxford Court, Schaumburg; and Frederick Woodson, 41, of the 10 block of Grant Circle, Streamwood.

Still at large are Curly Mixon, 24, of the 10 block of South Porter, Elgin; Corey Stewart, 34, of the 300 block of Silva, Elgin; and Vernial Trotter, 35, of the 600 block of Hayward, Streamwood.

Some of the suspects are believed to be affiliated with the Gangster Disciples street gang, Monroe said.

Another defendant, Damien Beamon of Elgin, was charged with violating state drug laws by the Cook County State's Attorney's office while still another, Katrice Woodson, 39, of the 10 block of Grant Circle in Streamwood was arrested in August and charged in a separate complaint.

If convicted, the suspects face prison sentences of 10 years to life.

Monroe said authorities are asking the three remaining suspects to turn themselves in quickly and peacefully.

Trotter is believed to have engaged in a drug transaction during his own son's youth football practice at Veteran's Park in Schaumburg, Monroe said.

"There was certainly a focus on the Schaumburg area," he added. "What this case illustrates is that the distribution of powder or crack cocaine is not limited to the city of Chicago. Hopefully this will deter others from getting involved in similar drug conspiracies."

The investigation, which began in 2006 through the assistance of an inside source, acquired probable cause in February 2007 for court-authorized surveillance of three suspects' phone calls to begin.

Though the suspects usually spoke in code on the phone, investigators came to understand such terms as "basketball" referring to an eighth of an ounce of cocaine and "butter" as cocaine of an exceptionally high quality.

The investigation ultimately involved the assistance of the Chicago, Elgin, Hanover Park, Hoffman Estates, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Roselle, Schaumburg and Streamwood police departments as well as the criminal investigation division of the Internal Revenue Service and the Cook County State's Attorney's office.

The FBI served as a coordinator for all the other agencies involved, Monroe said.

Joyanne Fabsits, who's in charge of leasing for Streets of Woodfield on behalf of Chicago-based Joseph Freed and Associates, said she was personally unaware of any investigation taking place on the property.

Marc Strich, general manager of Woodfield, said it would be inappropriate for him to comment on an ongoing criminal investigation.