Using Facebook To Sell Drugs, Guns Leads To 50 Arrests In Chicago

Chicago police confirmed Thursday they arrested 50 people including a public school teacher after infiltrating invite-only Facebook groups that were selling illegal drugs and guns. Police added they have warrants for another 18 people in connection to the case.

The public school teacher, identified as Daniel Caponigri, was arrested last week from Chicago's George Leland elementary for selling drugs via the Facebook group.

Eddie Johnson, police superintendent Thursday told the press they seized 18 guns and $46,000 worth of drugs during the 10-month investigation.

Speaking about the guns, Anthony Riccio, Chicago Police Organized Crime Chief said, “Many with serial numbers scratched out some with magazines capable for holding more than 30 rounds of ammo, most fully loaded ready to use at the time of purchase.”

The investigation started when an informant alerted the department’s narcotics division about the activities of the Facebook group which could not be found through the search engine, according to a report in WGN-TV, an independent television station based in Chicago. Police said the 10-month long investigation started in February, as undercover officers posed as drug and gun purchasers.

Authorities said the investigation was quite lengthy and complicated and Johnson went as far as to claim Facebook was not cooperative in trying to combat the criminal activity. WGN-TV reported there were more than a dozen illegal active Facebook groups that were being used by criminals to facilitate crimes that include human trafficking, drugs, and guns, police said.

In a statement Johnson said, "Facebook has a responsibility to the people they serve to ensure these type of things don't happen, quite frankly they have not been very friendly to law enforcement to prevent these things," flagship station of the ABC television network, WABC-TV, ABC7 Eyewitness News reported.

Johnson added his team did not receive any help from the social media group during its 10-month investigation, while Riccio added, "The things being trafficked on the site are killing people in Chicago, I think they (Facebook) have an obligation to take steps to ensure it doesn't happen.”

In response to the allegation, Facebook assured investigations into the matter were ongoing and these reports were the first time they were made aware of the situation.

“We are investigating this report now as it is the first time we have been alerted to it. We do not allow the sale of guns or drugs on our platform. We routinely work with law enforcement," Facebook said in a statement.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel also issued a statement addressing the issue and appreciated Chicago police for their work, “These innovative raids are the latest example of the smart, strategic steps the men and women of the Chicago Police Department (CPD) are taking to combat gun violence. Whether criminals are operating online or on the street, we will always ensure CPD has the tools, technology, training, and talent to track them down. I commend the leadership and rank and file of CPD for their proactive, professional policing that has taken more than 8,600 illegal guns off our streets this year and helped drive a reduction in crime in communities throughout the city."