Dad, son arrested in drug-cartel probe

LEIGHTON - A Leighton father and son and nine Illinois suspects are in custody after a federal investigation into a Mexican drug cartel, authorities said.

William Vandiver Sr., 64, and William Vandiver Jr., 23, both of Leighton, were taken into federal custody Tuesday, Colbert County Sheriff Ronnie May said.

The other suspects include seven Chicago residents, as well as one from Cicero, Ill., and another from Des Plaines, Ill., according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

Each suspect faces three charges of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms or more of cocaine, according to a DEA release, which states the suspects are members of the Juarez Drug Cartel.

DEA agents, U.S. Marshals, members of the Colbert County Drug Task Force and Colbert sheriff's deputies were involved in the arrest at the Vandivers' residence around 5 p.m. Tuesday, May said. The suspects were transferred to federal agents in Huntsville, he said.

The sheriff said the arrests should put a major crimp in illegal distribution.

"Any time you get that number of people off the streets, it has a positive impact in a large area," he said. "This is a good thing for Colbert County because of the volume of narcotics these folks were involved in helping get distributed, not just in Alabama but other places."

The arrests followed a 10-month investigation into the cartel distributing cocaine and marijuana in the Chicago area, according to the release.

A 50-page affidavit from DEA special agent James C. Chupik, filed with the U.S. District Court's Northern District of the Illinois Eastern Division, outlines the accused involvement of each suspect.

It states the elder Vandiver received wholesale amounts of cocaine from fellow suspect Alejandro Diaz Sr., of Des Plaines, with the intent to distribute.

He received one kilogram of cocaine from Diaz on Dec. 23 and another Jan. 5, the affidavit states.

The younger Vandiver received one kilogram from Diaz on Feb. 14 and was arrested with it, according to the affidavit.

The men went to Diaz's residence to receive the cocaine, according to the affidavit.

The DEA contends the investigation into the organization revealed that multiple-kilogram quantities of cocaine and marijuana were distributed from Mexico to Chicago from December through July.

The cocaine was sold wholesale at costs ranging from $20,000 to $22,000 per kilogram, and marijuana was sold at $500 to $1,050 per pound, the DEA states.

Three members of the cartel were killed at a drug-stash house in Chicago during the time of the investigation, the agency stated. That occurred in April, and authorities continue to investigate that incident.

Bernie Delinski can be reached at 740-5739 or bernie.delinski@TimesDaily.com.