Eight charged in Chicago fentanyl, cocaine trafficking: FBI

CHICAGO – Eight people have been charged trafficking in fentanyl and cocaine on The south side of ChicagoThis is evident from an indictment released on Friday.

The indictment alleged that between March 2023 and July 2024, the defendants ran a drug trafficking operation out of a residence in the 2000 block of West 69th Place in West Englewood.

Law enforcement seized large quantities of suspected fentanyl-laced heroin, crack cocaine and more than a dozen loaded firearms during the investigation.

The following Chicago residents were charged with federal drug and gun crimes:

• Patrick Tucker, 33
• Thomas Cunningham, 29
• Darius Johnson, 23
• Kywante Shumake, 26
• Keontis Shumake, 23
• Kamari Ross, 26
• Drequan Bas, 26
• Lacola Williams, 26

If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of life in federal prison. Tucker and Cunningham face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, while the others face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.

The defendants pleaded not guilty during their arraignment in U.S. District Court in Chicago.