I-Team: Task force cracks down on K-Town drug sales

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Two years after the ABC7 I-Team uncovered rampant daylight drug sales in a West Side Chicago neighborhood known as K-Town, a task force of federal, state and local law enforcement has cracked down on the street corner business and 35 people have been arrested.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Breaking the K-Town drug code

Day and night, rain or shine, out in the open; the I-Team found money for drugs up and down Kilbourne just north of the Eisenhower Expressway. It had been going on-mostly unchecked for two decades.

This afternoon, federal, state and city authorities announced conspiracy drug charges against 35 people who they say have been responsible for open-air sales in K-Town over the past several years, centered on the very same street the I-Team documented in 2012.

In addition to accused 55-year-old leader Johnny Herndon, aka "Goo," arrests made Thursday include accused underboss Christopher Harris, 34. Harris is said to be Herndon's nephew, in addition to his business partner.

Several of the drug defendants under arrest tonight are career drug defendants, and some are currently on parole for committing drug crimes. Authorities also confiscated numerous guns from the gangster disciple members charged. That's not unusual according to gang experts, who cite social media photos of gangster disciples and their guns.

David Muhammed says he recognizes most of the mugshots from K-Town, because Muhammed, who is a retired CTA repairman, put up his own hidden camera two years ago to videotape drug deals. He posted them on YouTube to try to force an end to the open air markets.

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