News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 13, 2006
Contact: Joanna Zoltay
Number: 312-886-2597

Operation Hip Hop Takes Down Local Drug Dealers
Eight People Arrested in Joint Law Enforcement Effort

(Aurora, IL) – Gary G. Olenkiewicz, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration; Andrew L. Traver, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Elissa A. Brown, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Illinois State Police Director Larry Trent; and Aurora Police Chief William Powell, announced the arrest of eight Aurora men, each on separate federal and stated drug trafficking charges.

The charges are the result of a cooperative effort between the law enforcement agencies named above as well as the United States Attorneys Office, Northern District of Illinois, the Kane County States Attorney’s Office, the Oswego Police Department, and the Montgomery Police Department.

Operation Hip Hop involved undercover agents making purchases of approximately 470 grams of crack cocaine and 384 grams of powder cocaine. The arrest and search warrants conducted on October 12, 2006, resulted in the seizure of approximately $13,000 USC, eight ounces of crack cocaine, two vehicles, a computer, eight cellular telephones and eight members of Kalvin Stewart’s illegal drug organization that operated out of the city of Aurora.

DEA Special Agent in Charge Gary Olenkiewicz stated, "These multiple federal and state arrests are the culmination of over a year's cooperative work with our federal, state and local counterparts. Because of these combined efforts, Kalvin Stewart and his associates will no longer be a menace to the city of Aurora. The DEA is proud to have been a partner in this investigation with the Aurora Police Department, ATF, ICE, Kane County, and others, and will continue to work with our partners in the law enforcement community to make sure that gangs, drugs and guns are no longer a threat to our children and neighborhoods."

“Today’s operation is a bit different in that we built a solid investigation around two individuals and expanded it to include their associates instead of going after a particular street gang,” said Aurora Police Chief William Powell. “By working with our federal, state, and county partners, the intelligence that was originally gathered by the Aurora police grew to be the cornerstone of this case. Federal agents are assisting our officers every day with the shared goal of eradicating gang and drug crimes. By adding state, county and local agencies to the team, it truly demonstrates that anyone with a badge is dedicated to this same cause.”

FEDERAL CHARGES

Charged with distributing a controlled substance, namely, 50 grams or more of mixtures and substances containing cocaine base in the form of “crack cocaine,” a Schedule II Narcotic Drug Controlled Substance in violation of Title 21 United States Code, Section 841 (a)(1) are:

Kalvin Stewart, aka “Bo Peep”
Randy Stewart, aka “Quee”
Shaunta Turner, aka “Little Vader”
Karlid Lash

If convicted, the defendants face maximum penalties of life in prison. Note, however, that the court will determine the appropriate sentence to be imposed under the United States sentencing guidelines.

STATE CHARGES

Charged with Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance 720 570/407 (c)(2) (Class 1 Felony); and Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance within 1,000 feet of a church or school 720 570/407 (b)(1) (Class X Felony) are:

Robert Cox
Vangle Pryor
Quadious Rush
Tyree Pryor
Gregory Warfield
Willie Mayes
Ricky Stewart
Eric Glover

The government is being represented by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Getter.

The public is reminded that complaints contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.