DIXON – Several suspected drug dealers in Dixon, Rock Falls and Sterling got a rude awakening early Tuesday when officers from several local police agencies came banging on their doors.

Led by the Dixon Police Department, officers arrested 16 people, all accused of selling marijuana or cocaine to confidential informants over a 6-month period.

The arrests were part of an ongoing operation that began with the Oct. 5 arrest of Edward Lane, 52, of Dixon, Dixon Police Sgt. Troy Morse said.

Subsequently, Lane's arrest led to the arrests of Ashley L. Brevig, 26 of Dixon, and Demetrius M. Muhammad, 26, of Clinton, Iowa.

Many of those arrested face Class X drug charges, which typically carry a prison sentence of 6 to 30 years. Because many of those suspects have prior drug convictions, they are eligible for an extended prison term, Morse said.

There were a few new faces Tuesday, but many of those arrested are "pretty old in the game," Morse said.
 
Among the significant arrests Tuesday was that of James B. Parks, 53, 622 W. Second St., who Morse said was a longtime local dealer who served at least two stints in prison.

Parks has been living in the same home for more than 10 years, and police recently received complaints that there has been a lot of heavy foot traffic there, he said.

Typically, drug sales tend to "quiet down" after a large bust, Morse added.

Twenty-four officers from Sterling, Rock Falls, Rochelle, the state police Blackhawk Area Task Force, Lee County Sheriff's Department, a parole officer from the Illinois Department of Corrections, and Lee County Assistant State's Attorney Peter Buh participated in the roundup.

Arrestees

n David C. Garcia, 24, 707 Woodburn Ave., Sterling; charged with armed violence, unlawful possession of weapons by a felon, unlawful delivery of cocaine, and unlawful possession of cocaine.

n Koty L. Schwarz, 19, 501 Ninth Ave., Rock Falls; charged with obstructing justice and unlawful possession of marijuana. 

n Michael T. Black, 36, 1107 Ave. L, Sterling; charged with unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a church, unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a park, two counts of unlawful delivery of cocaine, and unlawful possession of cocaine.
 
n Valeria E. Black, 28, of 1107 Ave. L, Sterling; charged with unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a church, unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a park, two counts of unlawful delivery of cocaine, and unlawful possession of cocaine. 

n Toniette S. Hambley, 32, 803 ½ W. Fourth St., Sterling; charged with three counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a church, unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

n Joe Van DeJesus, 40, 803 ½ W. Fourth St., Sterling; charged with two counts each of unlawful delivery of a cocaine within 1,000 feet of a church, unlawful delivery of cocaine, and unlawful possession of cocaine.

n Colleen D. Cox, 49, 609 W. Sixth St., Sterling; charged with unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a church, unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a park, unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of public housing, unlawful delivery of cocaine, and unlawful possession of cocaine.
 
n Levi B. Lauritzen, 18, 512 S. Crawford Ave., Dixon; was arrested for two counts each of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a church, unlawful delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school, unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

n James D. Parks, 53, 1622 W. Second St., Dixon; charged with unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a church, unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a park, unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of public housing, two counts of unlawful delivery of cocaine, and unlawful possession of cocaine.  

n Joshua M. Rascon, 35, 509 E. 26th St., Sterling; charged with unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a church, unlawful delivery of cocaine, unlawful possession of cocaine, two counts of unlawful delivery of between 10 and 30 grams of marijuana, and two counts of unlawful possession of between 10 and 30 grams of marijuana.

n Marc S. Schwartz, 48, 21st Street, Sterling; charged with unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a nursing home, unlawful delivery of cocaine, unlawful possession of cocaine.

n Jocinda C. Kahly, 35, 1231 N. Galena Ave., Dixon; charged with unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a church, unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a park, two counts of unlawful delivery of cocaine, and unlawful possession of Vicodin.

n Clint E. Starr, 23, 122 W. Third St., Sterling; charged with theft of government property for stealing money from a police informant.n David C. Garcia, 24, 707 Woodburn Ave., Sterling; charged with armed violence, unlawful possession of weapons by a felon, unlawful delivery of cocaine, and unlawful possession of cocaine.

n Koty L. Schwarz, 19, 501 Ninth Ave., Rock Falls; charged with obstructing justice and unlawful possession of marijuana. 

n Michael T. Black, 36, 1107 Ave. L, Sterling; charged with unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a church, unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a park, two counts of unlawful delivery of cocaine, and unlawful possession of cocaine.
 n Valeria E. Black, 28, of 1107 Ave. L, Sterling; charged with unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a church, unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a park, two counts of unlawful delivery of cocaine, and unlawful possession of cocaine. 

n Toniette S. Hambley, 32, 803 ½ W. Fourth St., Sterling; charged with three counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a church, unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

n Joe Van DeJesus, 40, 803 ½ W. Fourth St., Sterling; charged with two counts each of unlawful delivery of a cocaine within 1,000 feet of a church, unlawful delivery of cocaine, and unlawful possession of cocaine.

n Colleen D. Cox, 49, 609 W. Sixth St., Sterling; charged with unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a church, unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a park, unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of public housing, unlawful delivery of cocaine, and unlawful possession of cocaine.
  n Levi B. Lauritzen, 18, 512 S. Crawford Ave., Dixon; was arrested for two counts each of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a church, unlawful delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school, unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

n James D. Parks, 53, 1622 W. Second St., Dixon; charged with unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a church, unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a park, unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of public housing, two counts of unlawful delivery of cocaine, and unlawful possession of cocaine.  

n Joshua M. Rascon, 35, 509 E. 26th St., Sterling; charged with unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a church, unlawful delivery of cocaine, unlawful possession of cocaine, two counts of unlawful delivery of between 10 and 30 grams of marijuana, and two counts of unlawful possession of between 10 and 30 grams of marijuana.

n Marc S. Schwartz, 48, 21st Street, Sterling; charged with unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a nursing home, unlawful delivery of cocaine, unlawful possession of cocaine.

n Jocinda C. Kahly, 35, 1231 N. Galena Ave., Dixon; charged with unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a church, unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a park, two counts of unlawful delivery of cocaine, and unlawful possession of Vicodin.

n Clint E. Starr, 23, 122 W. Third St., Sterling; charged with theft of government property for stealing money from a police informant.