Twelve people have been federally charged, and more arrests could follow after a nearly two-year investigation into what prosecutors say was a large-scale open-air fentanyl and heroin market that operated “essentially dawn till dusk every day” on Chicago’s West Side.
The investigation began in September 2024 on the 700 block of North St. Louis Avenue, where members and affiliates of the Traveling Vice Lords street gang were selling narcotics “at almost all times,” according to a federal detention brief. According to the report, by the end of the investigation, detectives had wiretapped many phones, placed surveillance cameras, made more than 180 controlled drug purchases from group members, and intercepted multiple drug shipments.
According to the lawsuit, such purchases, which often included $10 bags of narcotics, resulted in more than 16 pounds of fentanyl or heroin and a significantly smaller amount of crack cocaine.
According to the detention letter, investigators learned last summer through wiretaps that one of the operators, Barry “Big Barry” Spires, planned to pick up a quantity of heroin and then pulled him over after obtaining the narcotics. Later, detectives intercepted phone calls in which other crew members discussed the arrest and seizure.
Spires “just got popped with $10,000 worth of [expletive],” Tia “TT” Chambers allegedly reported to David “Big Boy” Collins, the operation’s alleged leader.
Collins later said that she and other crew members returned to Spires’ car after he was arrested and “busted the window” to seek the narcotics, unaware that they had already been taken, according to the detention petition.
The inquiry concluded on July 1 when authorities carried out various search warrants related to the group. Prosecutors said they found huge amounts of suspected fentanyl, many guns, large sums of cash, and other indications of narcotics trafficking. During one operation, authorities apprehended Jamieane Ellis, who was characterized in the detention document as “a supplier to the organization” and “managed the stash house” that federal agents searched.
Prosecutors claimed Collins controlled the group, while Tyrone “Smooth” Thomas, Spires, and Cortney Hanes handled large quantities of heroin that supplied street vendors. Darius “Cuz” Waters allegedly purchased bulk narcotics for the group, while Deontario Prater oversaw street vendors, and Chambers, Octavius “Mook” Kyles, Essex “Ese” Davis, and Erik Miller allegedly sold drugs on the street.
The federal court system data show that at least 15 defendants may be engaged in the case, implying that additional arrests are possible.
The case was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Chicago Police Department.
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