4 arrested in Joliet heroin trafficking sting

(JOLIET) Four suspected drug dealers were arrested and large quantities of cash, drugs and vehicles were seized in a heroin trafficking sting Tuesday in southwest suburban Joliet.

The arrests were the culmination of a five-month long joint investigation — dubbed “Operation Success” — between Joliet police, the Joliet Metropolitan Area Narcotics Squad and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, according to a statement from Joliet police.

Maceo Johnson, 35, of the 700 block of Oneida Street; Gerry A. Shannon, 36, of the 200 block of North Center Street; and Justin R. Rainey, 33, of the 1000 block of Ronald Drive, were each charged with calculated criminal conspiracy and unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, police said.

Johnson, also known as “Success,” was arrested in Chicago by ATF agents and had $938 in cash and several Ecstasy and Xanax pills on him at the time, police said. He is being held on a $6 million bond.

Shannon, also known as “Leon,” was arrested in Joliet and was in possession of $1,150 in cash and about 26.25 grams of heroin, police said. His bond was set at $3 million.

Rainey, also known as “Jay,” was arrested by Joliet police while being released from the Will County Adult Detention Facility on an unrelated charge, police said. He is being held on a $3 million bond.

After the three men were arrested, authorities executed several search warrants in Joliet as a second phase to the investigation, according to police. They seized 288.5 grams of heroin, $355 in cash and a 2015 Chevrolet Camaro in the 700 block of Oneida.

In the 200 block of Center, investigators seized $8,385 in cash and “small quantities” of heroin, cocaine and marijuana, police said. Nathaniel Shannon, 33, was arrested inside the home and charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana with intent to deliver.

A third search warrant was executed in the 3900 block of Mohican Court, police said. Investigators seized a 2015 Cadillac Escalade, a 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe and a 2015 GMC Terrain.

The third phase of the investigation involved a sting targeting drug purchasers at a motel in the 1700 block of McDonough Street, police said. A total of 12 suspected buyers were identified, with charges against them pending, and 10 vehicles were towed pending seizure review.

“We will continue to work diligently with our law enforcement partners, both local and federal, to target the drug dealers who are contributing to the heroin epidemic that is plaguing our community,” Joliet Police Chief Brian Benton said in the statement.