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State's attorney: 'Sweeping arrests' of suspected Joliet gang members, drugs and weapons seized

JOLIET - Sixteen people were slammed with drug and weapon charges and police launched a massive sweep Tuesday morning to round them all up. (Paul Bergstrom)

By BRIAN STANLEY

JOLIET - Sixteen people were slammed with drug and weapon charges and police launched a massive sweep Tuesday morning to round them all up. (Paul Bergstrom)

The joint investigation by the Joliet Police Narcotics Unit, Metropolitan Area Narcotics Squad and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives netted two tables full of bullets and 31 weapons ranging from handguns that could easily fit in a pocket to a military rifle designed to be mounted on a Humvee. (Paul Bergstrom)

ATF Special Agent Celinez Nunez said other weapons seized during the 18-month investigation were being examined at the crime lab for ballistics comparisons. Over 100 law enforcement officers also seized over 200 grams of cocaine and other drugs during the sweep, which targeted members of the Vice Lords and Gangster Disciples street gangs, Nunez said. (Paul Bergstrom)

Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow noted five suspects have been charged with being armed habitual criminals based on their previous records. "We pulled out all the stops. Any charges that fit we (filed)," Glasgow said. "We're going to try and put these people away for as long as possible." (Paul Bergstrom)

Joliet Police Chief Brian Benton said the sweeps began at 6 a.m. and 12 people were taken into custody over the next five hours — both in Joliet and outside Will County. (Paul Bergstrom)

"Whenever there's gangs, guns and drugs, violence often accompanies that," Benton said. (Paul Bergstrom)

"Multijurisdictional sweeps like the one conducted today greatly expand the ability of law enforcement to defuse gang activity while taking illegal weapons off our streets," Glasgow said. "We work closely with our local police agencies on a daily basis to keep our neighborhoods safe, but the participation of federal agencies like ATF puts significant additional resources and manpower into the mix and lets drug dealers and gun traffickers know without question that we mean business" (Paul Bergstrom)