The Aurora Police Department has arrested and charged 18 people with numerous illegal gun and drug related felonies as a part of Operation Kilo Kai.
In the fall of 2019, the Aurora Police Department received information about narcotics dealing and illegal firearms purchases by the Latin Kings street gang in Aurora. Investigators from APD’s Special Operations Group (SOG) started investigating the information. They uncovered a deep web of illegal criminal activity by the Latin King street gang over the period of two years. Throughout the investigation, SOG Investigators recovered numerous illegal firearms and narcotics in Aurora, Elgin, Montgomery, and DeKalb.
In total, 17 persons were indicted by Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office, and one person was indicted by the DeKalb County State’s Attorney’s Office. Each person indicted was a member or an affiliate of the Latin King street gang. Wednesday, Aug. 11 the Aurora Police Department, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Elgin Police Department, and the DeKalb Police Department, arrested 13 suspects without incident and executed numerous search warrants. Two suspects were already in custody on unrelated charges.
Three suspects, who were indicted in Kane County, remain at large, and investigators are asking the community for help in locating the following suspects:
Diego Casas, 23, of the 400 block of South Avenue in Aurora
One count of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance – Class 1 Felony
Salvador Hernandez, 29, of the 500 block of East Galena Boulevard in Aurora
One count of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance – Class X Felony
Jose Ramirez, 32, of the 600 block of Jefferson Street in Aurora
One count of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance – Class X Felony
If you have any information on their whereabouts, please call APD’s Special Operations Group at (630) 256-5500 or email tips@aurora.il.us. You can also call Crime Stoppers at (630) 892-1000 to report information anonymously.
Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards up to $5,000 and anonymity to people who furnish information leading to the arrest of felony crime offenders and the capture of felony fugitives.
“The Aurora Police Department and this city has no tolerance for people who bring illegal guns and drugs into our city,” said Police Chief Keith Cross. “One of my top priorities is reduce violent crime in our city and this is a prime example of what our officers, investigators and professional staff are doing every day to keep our community safe.”
The Aurora Police Department thanks the Federal Bureau of Investigations for their assistance with this investigation.
The following suspects were indicted in Kane County and arrested without incident on Wednesday:
Jose E. Mondragon, 24, of the 900 block of Fourth Avenue in Aurora
Three counts of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance – Class 1 Felonies
Ivan Mondragon, 20, of the 900 block of Fourth Avenue in Aurora
Two counts of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance – Class 1 Felonies
Alejandro Aguilar, 26, of the 900 block of Fourth Avenue in Aurora
One count of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance – Class 1 Felony
Ignacio Lopez, 24, of the 100 block of North Trask Street in Aurora
Two counts of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance – Class X Felonies
Two counts of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance – Class 1 Felonies
Alonso Sanchez, 23, of the 100 block of Saugatuck Road in Montgomery
One count of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance – Class X Felony
Two counts of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance – Class 1 Felonies
Fernando Castellanos, 24, of the 1800 block of Arlene Drive in Aurora
One count of Possession of a Firearm by a Gang Member – Class 2 Felony
One count of Unlawful Sale of a Firearm – Class 3 Felony
One count of Possession a Firearm with a Defaced Serial Number – Class 3 Felony
One count of Unlawful Sale of a Firearm – Class 4 Felony
Fernando Marin-Tello, 35, of the 1700 block of Indian Avenue in Aurora
Two counts of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance – Class X Felonies
One count of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance – Class 1 Felony
Ross Ortega, 46, of the 500 block of Binder Avenue in Aurora
Two counts of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance – Class 1 Felonies
Miguel Cervantes, 26, of the 300 block of West New York Street in Aurora
One count of Possession of a Firearm by a Felon – Class 3 Felony
One count of Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon – Class 3 Felony
One count of Possession a Firearm with a Defaced Serial Number – Class 3 Felony
One count of Unlawful Sale of a Firearm – Class 3 Felony
One count of Unlawful Sale of a Firearm – Class 4 Felony
Gregorio Valenzuela, 26, of the 700 block of East Benton Street in Aurora
One count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon – Class 3 Felony
One count of Possess Firearm by a Felon – Class 3 Felony
One count of Unlawful Sale of a Firearm – Class 3 Felony
One count of Unlawful Sale of a Firearm – Class 4 Felony
Ismael Meraz, 43, of the 300 block of South Smith Street in Aurora
One count of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance – Class X Felony
Francisco Lechuga, 28, of the 300 block of Hamilton Avenue in Elgin.
One count of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance – Class 1 Felony
The following suspect was indicted in DeKalb County and arrested without incident on Wednesday:
Jorge Barrios, 25, of the 1000 block of North 15th Street in DeKalb, IL
One count of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance – Class 1 Felony
The following suspects were indicted in Kane County and are already in custody for unrelated charges.
Adrian Betsinger, 24, currently in custody in Kane County on unrelated charges
3 Counts of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance – Class 1 Felonies
David Ponce, 22, currently in custody with the Illinois Department of Corrections on unrelated charges
Two counts of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance – Class X Felonies
Two counts of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance – Class 1 Felonies
Charges are not proof of guilt. The defendants listed in this release are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial, at which it is the burden of the State to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
— Aurora Police Department