3 suspects still at large – APD photo
The Aurora Police Department has arrested and charged 18 people with numerous illegal gun and drug related felonies as a part of a two-year special investigation codenamed Operation Kilo Kai.
In the fall of 2019, the 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 people 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.
“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.”
On Wednesday, 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 [email protected]. You can also call Crime Stoppers at (630) 892-1000 to report information anonymously.