United States Drug Enforcement Administration

CHICAGO – Sheila Lyons, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Chicago Field Division, announced that Allen Dean, 30, Chicago, has been charged with one felony count of manufacture of controlled substances, 900 or more grams of fentanyl and methamphetamine. The charges were approved by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.

In February 2023, the DEA received intelligence that two parcels were shipped from Songjiang, China, to Dean in Chicago. A search revealed one parcel contained a pill press, with the other containing a pill press motor.

On March 30, 2023, a Cook County Judge signed a search warrant for a residence in the 8000 block of S. Union Avenue, in Chicago.

On the same day, the DEA observed Dean's vehicle arrive near the target residence. DEA agents attempted to stop Dean, who fled in the vehicle on the sidewalk between the apartments.

Dean then fled on foot to a nearby gated facility, and stole another vehicle, which he used to ram through a fence. The vehicle was later found abandoned in Chicago, and Dean had escaped custody.

Subsequent to their pursuit of Dean, DEA clandestine laboratory personnel executed the search warrant in the 8000 block of S. Union Avenue and recovered large amounts of loose white residue of suspect fentanyl near a pill press.

Among the items seized were two pill presses (one functioning and the other inoperable), multiple pill press dies, 5,460 tablets of fentanyl and methamphetamine and 1.3 pounds of powder substances, which tested positive for fentanyl and methamphetamine.

Agents also found a chemical suit, an indication that Dean was aware of the dangers posed by the work he was doing with the chemicals and the presses.

The vehicle Dean arrived and abandoned during his flight from the agents was towed to a facility. A state search warrant for the vehicle was obtained, in which agents found the box containing the pill press motor and nine pill bottles labeled "oxycodone and acetaminophen.”

Subsequent chemical testing of the contents revealed a total of 834 tablets containing fentanyl and methamphetamine. A state search warrant for Dean’s residence was obtained, which yielded the recovery of additional fentanyl pills, as well as handgun ammunition.

On May 15, 2023, DEA agents located and arrested Dean in Chicago. Dean was transferred to the custody of the Chicago Police Department.

Judge Ankur Srivastava set bail at $500,000. Dean must post 10% of the bail amount to go home on electronic monitoring.

The public is reminded that an indictment contains only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.