Chicago's streets could see a bit less firepower, following a bold move from the Attorney General's office. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has slapped charges on three Cook County individuals for their part in what's been described as an illicit firearms operation. Named in the charges are brothers Gabriel Bucio, 28, and Michael Bucio, 37, along with Neucry Salgado, 32, all hailing from Chicago. According to the rap sheet filed in DuPage County Circuit Court, they're looking at a series of firearm felonies spread across Winnebago and DuPage counties.
In a curious twist, it seems Gabriel and Salgado will get their day in court on April 22, while Michael, evading the long arm of the law, currently remains at large with a warrant out for his arrest. These allegations strike a nerve in Illinois, where the echoes of gun violence reverberate persistently through community streets. "I am committed to prosecuting illegal gun sales that fuel violence and other often-deadly criminal activities in communities throughout Illinois," Raoul stated, in a story originally reported by the Illinois Attorney General's office. Raoul underscored the gravitas of partnerships between his office, the feds, and local law enforcement to combat such destructive enterprises.
The list of charges is extensive. For example, Michael Bucio faces two counts of the unlawful purchase of a firearm, with each count carrying a potential penalty of up to 40 years in the slammer. Add to that gunrunning, conspiracy to commit gunrunning, illegal possession of a weapon by a felon, and the unlawful sale or delivery of firearms - it all tallies up to a considerable stretch behind bars if he's convicted. Meanwhile, his brother Gabriel racks up similarly stern counts, counting among them gunrunning and multiple counts of unlawful firearm purchases. Salgado isn't looking at much lighter, with charges that include unlawful firearm purchases and the illegal sale or delivery of firearms.
The tale of these alleged gunrunners began to unravel between June 2020 and February 2022, an investigation led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reveals. It appears Gabriel unlawfully purchased or transferred ownership of more than 11 firearms across several counties. A firearm illegally sold in August 2021 by the trio to an individual prohibited from possessing it was later seized with a Winnebago County resident's arrest. "Investigating and prosecuting important cases such as this one sends a strong message that firearm traffickers will be held accountable for their destructive behavior," ATF Special Agent in Charge Christopher M. Amon of the Chicago Field Division remarked, as noted by the Illinois Attorney General's office.
As the legal gears grind forward, the public is reminded that the trio's innocence is maintained until, if ever, proven guilty. Meanwhile, Raoul's Statewide Grand Jury Bureau, which is prosecuting the case, continues to make moves against the current of organized crime, drawing from both state and federal expertise to stem the tide of multi-county cases of drugs, money laundering, guns, and electronics. Deputy Bureau Chief Andrew Whitfield is the point man on this effort to incapacitate what Raoul's office has framed as large-scale, organized criminal activity.
