Eighty "deadbeat dads" were apprehended since the beginning of June for failing to pay child support, the Cook County Sheriff's Office said Monday.
The 80 men together owe more than $1.7 million in unpaid child support.
Those arrested include Cleveland Keys Jr., 46, who owes over $213,600 in unpaid child support, the highest of all those arrested. Others include Byron Portis, 29, who owes more than $59,000. When Portis was arrested in his Chicago town home, investigators found more than $44,000 in a bag, as well as four loaded firearms.
Yaser Hadidi, 51, was arrested for the fifth time in connection to his failure to pay $50,935.48 in child support. Hadidi was also arrested in May by Cook County Sheriff's detectives for LINK card fraud.
Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart said in a statement that while the operation was a success, the office is still looking for the public's assistance in apprehending more child support fugitives.
Among those the Sheriff's department is still looking for is David Fisher, 45, who owes $243,569 in back child support.
The bulk of the "deadbeat dads" were apprehended just in time for Father's Day.
"It's particularly troubling to think that even on Father's Day - a day intended to honor one of the two most important people in a child's life - there are men, continuously shirking their duties and failing to provide basic financial assistance for their children," Dart said in a statement. "I'm happy that our office is sending a message to all deadbeat parents - support your kids, or we're coming after you."
