Overview

• On July 2 a federal grand jury in Chicago returned a superseding indictment against Andre Debruce, Terrance Patton, Craig Caldwell, Timothy Belin, Jennifer Word and Denomoius Wells for a 2024 conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, heroin and cocaine
• The revised indictment adds illegal firearms counts for Patton and Caldwell as previously convicted felons and an extra charge against Caldwell for using a weapon to further drug trafficking
• All six defendants pleaded not guilty during arraignments in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and remain in pretrial proceedings
• Sentencing exposures range from up to 20 years for Belin, Word and Wells to 40 years for Patton and Debruce and a potential life term for Caldwell
• The case is led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and executed with support from the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago and Evanston police under OCDETF and Project Safe Neighborhoods