A routine round of mid-May parole compliance checks in Cicero turned into a full-blown bust, with five people arrested and what officers described as a sizable cache of weapons, narcotics, and about $10,000 in cash. The joint operation, carried out by the Cicero Police Department and Illinois Department of Corrections parole agents, zeroed in on parolees registered at three west-suburban homes and ended with a slate of new criminal charges. Two of those arrested were already on parole after felony convictions, authorities said, and the others were taken into custody after officers reported finding drugs or a firearm at the targeted properties. Police later shared photos of the haul with reporters.
Searches for net guns, drugs, and cash
During the searches, officers said they seized an AR-15-style "ghost" rifle, a shotgun, four semi-automatic handguns, oxycodone, cocaine, psychedelic mushrooms, stacks of marijuana and roughly $10,000 in cash, according to Fox 32 Chicago. Cicero police told local media the sweep was part of ongoing, routine parole compliance work, even if the results looked anything but routine.
Five people charged after compliance sweep
Police identified the five people arrested as Victor Ramirez, Salvador Camacho, Jessika Torres and siblings Demoyne and Deonta Blakemore, as reported by CBS Chicago. Ramirez was charged with armed violence and unlawful use of a weapon. Camacho faces counts that include possession with intent to deliver and manufacturing or delivering cocaine. Demoyne and Deonta Blakemore were charged with manufacturing and delivering both cocaine and cannabis. Torres was charged with felony possession of a firearm after, according to police, admitting ownership of a semi-automatic handgun found in one of the homes.
Who is being held where
Torres and the Blakemore siblings are being held without bond at the Cook County Jail, while Camacho and Ramirez remain in Cook County custody pending transfer to the Illinois Department of Corrections, police said, according to Fox 32 Chicago. Authorities said the operation unfolded on May 15 and was coordinated by IDOC parole agents working alongside Cicero's Special Operations Division. Prosecutors have not yet announced whether additional charges will be filed.
Why ghost guns raise red flags
Unserialized "ghost" firearms are notoriously difficult for investigators to trace, which is why they have been at the center of federal rulemaking and court battles over how to regulate build-it-yourself kits and parts. AP News has reported that federal officials in recent years have moved to require serial numbers and background checks for components sold as kits. Local law enforcement officials say that coming across such a weapon during a parole check underscores how challenging enforcement can be.
What comes next in court
Cicero police said the cases will move through the Cook County court system and that any parole violations could trigger revocation and a return to IDOC custody, officials told reporters, per CBS Chicago. The Cicero Police Department did not immediately respond to additional questions about the ongoing investigations. For now, it will be up to local prosecutors to decide whether to pursue further charges as detectives continue to follow up on leads.
