News
Release
FOR
IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
June 29, 2007
Contact: Joanna
Zoltay
Number: 312-886-259
Chicago
Cocaine
Organization
Disrupted
$1.5
million
US Currency
Seized
11 Arrested on
Drug Conspiracy
Charges
JUN
29 --
(Chicago)
Gary
G. Olenkiewicz,
Special
Agent
in Charge
of the
Drug
Enforcement
Administration’s
Chicago
Field
Division
announced
today
the
arrest
of 11
alleged
participants
belonging
to a
cocaine
distribution
organization.
As part
of a
long
term
investigation
conducted
by the
DEA,
defendant
Calvin
Buffington
is alleged
to have
been
the
head
of a
drug
distribution
organization
that
was
responsible
for
trafficking
in multiple
kilogram
quantities
of powder
cocaine
in Chicago,
Detroit
and
other
areas
of Michigan.
Ten
of the
arrests
took
place
in Chicago
and
one
in Detroit.
The
arrests
are the
result
of a long
term multi-jurisdictional,
multi-agency
Organized
Crime
Drug Enforcement
Task Force
(OCDETF)
investigation
that began
in October
2006.
From January
2007 to
May 2007,
approximately
$364,734
in narcotics
proceeds
and approximately
23 kilograms
of cocaine
were seized
from the
organization.
The criminal
complaint
alleges
that Calvin
Buffington
directed
the purchase
and distribution
of cocaine
as well
as the
collection
and distribution
of narcotics
proceeds
made by
the organization.
It is
also alleged
that members
of Buffington’s
family
participated
in the
storing
of narcotics
and narcotics
proceeds.
“It’s
unfortunate
that multiple
members
of the
Buffington
family
were wrapped
up in
the greed
and distribution
of illegal
narcotics,” stated
Mr. Olenkiewicz. “The
family
business
was selling
cocaine
on the
streets
of Chicago
and Detroit,
and today
we put
the family
out of
business.
We will
continue
working
with the
United
States
Attorney’s
Office
and our
law enforcement
partners
to keep
illegal
drug distribution
organizations
like this
from operating
in our
communities.” Other
law enforcement
agencies
involved
with the
investigation
included
DEA offices
in Chicago,
Detroit,
Lansing,
Minneapolis,
and Springfield,
Illinois,
FBI, US
Marshals,
Cook County
Sheriff’s
Office,
Cook County
State
Attorney’s
Office,
Indiana
State
Police,
Michigan
State
Police,
Gary,
Indiana
Police
Department,
Lake Station,
Indiana
Police
Department,
Champaign,
Illinois
Police
Department
and the
Lansing,
Michigan
Police
Department.
Along
with the
arrest
warrants,
10 federal
search
warrants
were served
at various
locations
in Chicago
and 2
in Detroit
on June
28, 2007.
Items
seized
as a result
of the
court
ordered
search
warrants
were approximately
$1.5 million
in US
Currency,
approximately
1 kilogram
heroin,
approximately
20 pounds
marijuana,
several
guns,
12 vehicles,
a motorcycle,
and miscellaneous
documents.
Arrested
on drug
distribution
and conspiracy
charges
were:
Calvin
Buffington,
aka “Big
Buff”, “Big
Boy”, “Big
F” and “Ghost
Dog; Chicago
Michael Buffington,
aka “Mike” and “Bro”;
Chicago
Lois Buffington,
aka “Momma”;
Chicago
Ronnie Hogue,
aka “Little
Bro”; Chicago
Christopher Dukes,
aka “14”;
Chicago
Antoine Boddie,
aka “Twig”, “Tweety”, “Tweety
Bird”, “Tweed” and “Antonie
Cromwell”;
Chicago
Cedric Smith,
aka “Ce”,
and “Ced”;
Chicago
Eric Caldwell,
aka “E-Dub”;
Chicago
Dawnya Parker;
Chicago
Corey Anderson,
aka “Kokimo”;
Chicago
Brad Parker, aka “Jay”, “Jay
Whizzle”,
and “Whizzle”;
Detroit
Three
other
defendants
remain
at large:
Johnnie
Hughes,
aka “Cuz”,
and Lil’ Cuz”;
Chicago
Mae Jean Sanders,
aka “Grandma”;
Detroit
Darelene Bettis;
Detroit
All
the Chicago
defendants
appeared
before
US Magistrate
Jeffrey
Cole for
initial
appearances
on Friday
June 29,
2007.
The next
court
appearance
before
Magistrate
Cole is
scheduled
for Tuesday,
July 2,
2007,
and Monday
July 1,
2007 for
Lois Buffington.
If convicted,
the defendants
face a
mandatory
minimum
of 10
years
imprisonment,
a maximum
term of
life imprisonment,
and a
fine of
up to
$4,000,000.00.
The public
is reminded
that the
defendants
are presumed
innocent
unless
and until
proven
guilty
beyond
a reasonable
doubt.
The
case is
being
prosecuted
by Assistant
United
States
Attorneys
Terra
Brown
and Steve
Dollear.
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