CHICAGO — A father and son are among 18 individuals facing criminal charges as part of a federal investigation into cocaine trafficking in the Chicago area.

During the multi-year investigation, dubbed “Operation Flawed Deal,” law enforcement seized multiple bank accounts, more than a kilogram of cocaine, a Mercedes G63 sport-utility vehicle, and two handguns, including one with an extended magazine.  The defendants allegedly distributed cocaine to hundreds of customers in the Chicago area, with drivers dispatched to make door-to-door deliveries.

The investigation was conducted under the umbrella of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, whose principal mission is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations.

Two indictments unsealed this week in U.S. District Court in Chicago charge 18 defendants with federal drug offenses.  Many of the defendants were arrested Thursday, and they have begun making initial appearances in federal court in Chicago.

The indictments were announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Jeffrey S. Sallet, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Brian McKnight, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; and Gabriel L. Grchan, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago.  Valuable assistance was provided by the Chicago Police Department, Evanston Police Department, Skokie Police Department, Lincolnwood Police Department, Palatine Police Department and Des Plaines Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rajnath Laud and Charles W. Mulaney represent the government.

Fourteen defendants are charged in U.S.A. v. Usmani, et al (18 CR 835), including ANEES USMANI, also known as “Ace,” 41, of Chicago, and his brother, NAFEES USMANI, 39, of Lincolnwood.  The Usmani brothers allegedly conspired with JUAN BAUTISTA DOMINGUEZ, 41, of Chicago, and several others to distribute at least 500 grams of cocaine in the Chicago area from the fall of 2017 to the spring of 2018.  Also charged in the drug conspiracy are ALFONSO TROTTER, also known as “Fonz” and “Fonzie,” 48, of Chicago; RONALD ALLEN, 47, of Chicago; MUHAMMAD SABIH, also known as “Muhammad Iqbal” and “Sabih Nawab,” 30, of Chicago; MUHAMMAD BILAL KHAN, 24, of Chicago; AHMED FATAH KHAN MALIK, 24, of Skokie; ODEH ALSHOBAKI, 22, of Worth; AHMED HUSSEIN YOUSEF ALSAWALHI, 21, of Chicago; WESAM ABDEL FATTAH, 32, of Chicago; and LISA USMANI, 41, of Lincolnwood.  Charged with cocaine distribution are KENNETH SLAUGHTER, 34, of Park Forest; and NEAL BOWENS, 47, of Gary, Ind.  The indictment seeks forfeiture from ANEES USMANI of the Mercedes SUV and $247,700 in cash.

Dominguez and four other defendants are charged in U.S.A. v. Cayuela, et al (18 CR 836), including TONY F. CAYUELA, 64, of Chicago, and his son, TONY J. CAYUELA, also known as “Tone Kapone,” 39, of Chicago.  The Cayuelas allegedly conspired with WALBERTO OLIVO, 46, of Chicago, to distribute at least 500 grams of cocaine in the Chicago area in the spring and summer of 2018.  Dominguez and JESUS HERNANDEZ, 41, of Chicago, are charged in the indictment with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.  The indictment seeks forfeiture from Tony J. Cayuela of $108,000 in cash, two properties in the Brighton Park neighborhood of Chicago, and a property in the city’s Chicago Lawn neighborhood.

The charges in the indictments carry maximum penalties of 20 to 40 years in federal prison.  If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. 

The public is reminded that charges contains only accusations and are not evidence of guilt.  The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.