Feds charge 28 South Side gang members

Twenty-eight South Side gang members were arrested Wednesday, the result of a year-long federal investigation which authorities say will make Chicago's streets safer.

"Today, residents of the South Side of Chicago got one of their blocks back," U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said as he announced charges against 28 members of a faction of the Damenville Gangster Disciples, called the 5-4 Crew.

According to authorities, the gang is headed by Isaiah Hicks of Harvey, who was the main focus of the investigation.

During Wednesday morning raids, code named Operation Dead-Eye, members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Cook County Sheriff's Department searched 7 locations, including Hicks' home, where they found four guns, less than a pound of crack cocaine and 13 pounds of marijuana.

In addition to the guns and drugs, authorities also seized three vehicles, nearly $40,000 in cash and two bullet proof vests.

Between April and December 2007 an undercover agent bought more than 500 grams of crack cocaine from Corey Williams, 27, allegedly one of Hicks' dealers. The ATF also ran a four-month-long wiretap on three phones as part of the investigation.

The West Englewood gang's activities focused on two blocks of territory bounded by W. 54th and W. 55th streets; and S. Damen and S. Hoyne avenues, authorities said

Some area residents, however, were skeptical that the arrests would impact crime in the neighborhood, saying the operation was little more than a publicity stunt.

Some local experts said merely arresting gang members is not enough to fix the problem.

"Usually someone else will fill the void that these guys have left open on the streets," Dan Dighton, a spokesperson for Ceasefire, said. "That is why you need a multi-pronged approach which is where we come in by intervening with young people."

Though the gang's activities centered on this area, their influence was far wider, said ATF Special Agent Don Sorrano.

"It wasn't just a small portion in the city-- that was the main part of it-- but its tentacles reached out into the 'burbs," Sorrano said.

According to the affidavit, the gang purchased one to two kilograms of cocaine per month which they processed into crack cocaine and resold. Authorities are investigating the source of the gang's cocaine.

Fitzgerald admitted the effects of Wednesday's arrests may be limited in curbing Chicago's gang and violence problem, but said he was hopeful the community would see some improvement after today.

"We haven't solved the war on drugs today, we haven't solved the war on violence today, but at the same time if you lived on that block on West 54th street this makes a big difference when that's your home, that's your neighborhood and for the people who live there that makes an impact when someone comes and does something about it," Fitzgerald said.

The eight members still sought by police are: Joshua "Boss Hog" McElroy, 27; Ethel J. Harold, 21; Romell "Grosso," Hollingsworth, 28; Patrick "Hog" Jones, 35; Dwayne "Wayne" Garrett, 35; Deshaun "Deonte," Germany, 23; Christopher Gavin, 22; and Latasha "Tasha B" Williams, 24.