In a major sweep against illegal narcotics and firearms trafficking, federal law enforcement this week arrested two suspects from the suburban areas of Chicago. James Howard, 32, of Frankfort, Ill., and Shantel Robinson, 31, of Oak Lawn, Ill., stand charged with drug conspiracy after agents seized multiple kilograms of fentanyl and a trove of approximately 25 firearms from their residences and a storage unit, according to a federal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago.
The arrests, which took place on Thursday, were a part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative to aggressively tackle illegal immigration, dismantle cartels, and curb violent crime. It's reported that within Robinson’s apartment, which was purportedly used as a drug lab, agents found multiple firearms along with equipment for drug manufacturing. In a strategic move to further investigate, law enforcement successfully conducted searches on Howard's residence and a storage unit leased by Robinson in Alsip, Ill., where they discovered more suspected narcotics and additional firearms, along with "conversion devices" for Glock pistols.
Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Sheila G. Lyons, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, announced the arrests, acknowledging the collaboration of various Illinois police departments and U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the operation. The Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kurt Siegal and Minje Shin will be representing the government in the ongoing case. The defendants had their initial court appearance on the day of their arrest.
Within a package placed in the common area of Robinson’s apartment complex, approximately 1.5 kilograms of suspected fentanyl and around 850 grams of suspected cocaine were covertly discovered, encased within a comforter blanket. "The investigation remains ongoing," as cited by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
