A total of 96 felony charges have been filed against the men — all of whom are alleged members of the Latin King street gang — as a result of the investigation dubbed “Operation Tri-Lambs”.

A nearly three-year investigation conducted by the Aurora Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Kane County State’s Attorney into allegations of drug dealing and firearms sales involving an Aurora street gang has culminated with indictments against 16 men.

The investigation was conducted under the umbrella of the U.S. Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).

Charges contained in indictments announced by Aurora Police Chief Kristen Ziman; Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Chicago Office, John Brown; and Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon.

“The joint response from law enforcement at the federal, legislative and local levels illustrate that the power of collaboration is an unstoppable force against those individuals who wreak havoc on a community,” said Ziman. “The tireless work by law enforcement reinforces the notion that criminal acts are not tolerated.”

A total of 96 felony charges have been filed against the men —  all of whom are alleged members of the Latin King street gang — as a result of the investigation dubbed “Operation Tri-Lambs”.

Thirty-two charges are classified as Class X felonies which call for enhanced penalties upon conviction.

The nearly three-year investigation utilized undercover, controlled narcotics and weapons purchases and involved confidential informants, all of whom were also members of the Latin Kings.

Charging documents indicate the purchases were all video and/or audio recorded.

All of the felonies are state charges and will be prosecuted by the Kane County State’s Attorney.

During the investigation, 13 firearms and approximately 22 ounces of cocaine were seized. The majority of the investigation’s targets have documented criminal histories involving narcotics, weapons, and other alleged violent offenses.

Seven of the 16 men were taken into custody last Thursday when approximately 90 Aurora Police Officers and FBI Special Agents fanned out across the City and executed arrest warrants either at the suspects’ homes or places where they were known to frequent.

Five of the men were previously arrested and charged in connection with the Tri-Lambs investigation; two were in IDOC custody on unrelated charges; and two remain at large.

One of the suspects, Caleb A. Frazier, 24, of the 200 block of Forest Ave., Aurora, faces a total of 21 felony counts including nine counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a street gang member, five counts of unlawful sale or delivery of a firearm, three counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, two counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance within 1000 feet of a church and single counts of gunrunning and unlawful possession of a firearm with no FOID card.

Frazier was taken into custody last Wednesday while he was with another target of the investigation, Julio C. Charez, 23, of the 100 block of Woodlawn Ave., Aurora.

Charez faces two counts each of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, unlawful possession of a firearm with no FOID card, and unlawful sale or delivery of a firearm.

— 16 arrested in probe of gang’s drug dealings, firearm sales —