Bloomington Police have arrested four men who, investigators say, were involved in one of the most active drug rings in the city.
Lieutenant Bob Wall said police noticed heavy drug activity in two apartments in the 2100 block of East Empire St. and one at 705 Fairmont Drive.
Officers with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Task Force, Illinois State Police Tactical Response Team and Bloomington Police Department’s Special Weapons and Tactics Team executed federal search warrants at those three apartments following a three-month investigation.
BPD announced the arrests of Raymone Stephens, 30; Khalil Hood, 23; Lorenzo Aken, 38; and Larry Lanier, 52; all of Bloomington.
The men were arrested pending formal charges. Wall said federal charges are pending for several of the defendants.
“These are very significant arrests for our department,” Wall said. “It puts a significant dent (in the local drug trade). It takes this ring out of operation, decimates them,” he said.
Wall added there could be more arrests in the investigation.
Police seized about 300 grams of powder cocaine and crack cocaine and seized four handguns, a shotgun, a bullet proof vest, and $6,900 in cash.
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