I-Team: Gunrunning suspect surrenders to feds

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The feds file gunrunning charges against a 24-year-old Chicago man in a major illegal weapons case that authorities say illustrates how street gangs obtain their the firepower.

There are thousands of illegal guns taken off the streets every year in Chicago, almost 7,000 last year alone and more than 2,000 so far this year. In most cases, they come from somewhere else.

DOCUMENT: Winston Geralds indictment

Lately, the most fluid pipeline has been over the Indiana state line.

Federal authorities say Tuesday one alleged operative in a lucrative Indiana-to-Chicago gun-running business surrendered to U.S. charges and Tuesday night is locked up at the MCC.

High-powered weapons used in gang shootings such as a park attack late last summer, were brought over the state line via the arms network operated by convicted gun trafficker David "Big Man" Lewisbey, who is now in federal prison.

Tuesday afternoon at the Dirksen Federal Building, one of his accused operatives, 24-year-old Winston Geralds, turned himself in to face a seven count grand jury indictment.

Investigators say Geralds was in on the illegal deals to bring these guns from Indiana to the streets of Chicago, where many of them ended up in the hands of gangbangers, they say no fewer than 43 guns sold to an undercover informant.

According to the gunrunning indictment, "Worm," as he is known, is charged with conspiracy, dealing firearms without federal license, illegal transport across state lines, interstate travel to sell guns without license. Geralds, the son of a Cook County Sheriff's police officer, has pleaded not guilty.

There is no indication that Geralds' policeman father had any involvement in the case, nor was he involved in his son's surrender.

There will be a bond hearing for Geralds on Friday. Prosecutors contend he is a danger and will ask that he be held until trial. The organization's top gunrunner David Lewisbey was sentenced last month to almost 17 years in prison and another member of the group got 11 years.

Winston Geralds is charged with conspiracy, dealing firearms without federal license, illegal transport across state lines, interstate travel to sell guns without license.