In September 2010, members of the Evanston Police Department’s Neighborhood Enforcement Team (N.E.T.) were instrumental in spearheading a multi-jurisdictional investigation that targeted gang members and street level open air drug markets, said Commander Tom Guenther, public information officer of the Evanston Police Department.
As an outgrowth of this operation, police gathered information concerning the activities of a 24-year old Chicago man who operated Ramy’s Foods, located at 1723 Simpson, said Commander Guenther. Police allege that the Chicago man would offer to charge an amount to a customer’s Illinois LINK card in excess of the purchase price of the items being purchased, that the customer would be given a portion of the excess charge in cash and that the Chicago man would retain a cash processing fee, said the Commander. Police also allege that the Chicago man sold cocaine at Ramy’s Foods, said the Commander.
Police from Evanston and other jurisdictions executed warrants in connection with operation “Hard Swipe” in September. Police learned that the Chicago man fled the country evading arrest, said the Commander. The man was detained at a New York airport this week when he attempted to reenter the United States. He was taken into custody and transported to the Evanston Police Department.
The Chicago man has been charged with four felony counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, one felony count of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school, three felony counts of fraudulent schemes and artifices, and two felony counts of public aid wire fraud, said the Commander.