Four Charged in Ecstasy Trafficking Ring

Four Michigan residents face drug charges as part of an alleged ecstasy trafficking conspiracy that used Interstate 80 to transport the drugs across state lines.

Leon R. Johnson, 48; Myron Jackson, 20; Briana Sears, 48; and Cherrell Wallace, 19, are charged with manufacture and delivery of 400-900 grams of ecstasy and controlled-substance trafficking.

Cook County Sheriff’s police and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents identified the four as residents of the Detroit area who regularly drove to the Chicago metro area along I-80 to deliver large quantities of ecstasy tablets, according to a release from the sheriff's office.

Undercover officers arranged a meeting with one of the them and purchased a number of ecstasy pills, the release said. Officers then conducted additional surveillance and set up more deals.

On Tuesday, officers set up a meeting with all four members of the group, who asked to meet at a location in Tinley Park in Will County. During the deal, ecstasy tablets were delivered to an undercover police officer and the four were arrested, the release said.

Over the course of the investigation, 1,700 ecstasy tablets were seized with an estimated street value of $34,000.

In court on Thursday, bond was set at $500,000 for Johnson and $100,000 each for Jackson,  Sears and Wallace.  They face between 24 and 200 years in prison each if convicted of all charges.