Drug Dealer Found Guilty of Intent To Distribute Cannabis Throughout Chicago Area

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced today that Lirim Luzaj, 38, a member of a drug ring with ties to California and Michigan, has been found guilty of Unlawful Possession of Cannabis with Intent to Deliver more than 5,000 grams (a Class X Felony.)

The conviction is the result of a year-long investigation by the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the DuPage Metropolitan Enforcement Group and several local law enforcement agencies. 

Dubbed “Operation Chicago Haze,” the combined efforts of the agencies resulted in 12 arrests and the seizure of approximately $1 million, 11 vehicles and five weapons. Judge Robert Kleeman announced his verdict this morning after a three-day long bench trial.

Lirim Luzaj is a member of a drug ring that is allegedly responsible for the distribution of more than 600 pounds of cannabis per month to other cannabis dealers throughout the Chicago area.

The charges filed against the remaining eleven individuals are the result of a joint State and Federal investigation into the Dorian Luzaj cannabis trafficking organization that allegedly trafficked cannabis into Illinois from California and Canada.  Dorian Luzaj is the brother of Lirim Luzaj. On May 21, 2010, Luzaj and the following individuals were charged in relation to “Operation Chicago Haze.”

Dorian Luzaj – Cannabis Trafficking, Class X Felony

Konstantinos A. Koutelidakis – Conspiracy (Cannabis Trafficking), Class 1 Felony; Money Laundering in Excess of $100,000, Class 1 Felony

Przemyslaw Raczynski – Cannabis Trafficking, Class X Felony

Bujar Toshkezi – Cannabis Trafficking, Class X Felony

Stephany Ortiz – Cannabis Trafficking, Class X Felony

Imer Xhaferi – Attempted Cannabis Trafficking, Class 1 Felony

Jacek Pelc – Cannabis Trafficking, Class X Felony; Conspiracy (Cannabis Trafficking), Class 1 Felony

Daniel Awkermen – Cannabis Trafficking, Class X Felony; Conspiracy (Cannabis Trafficking), Class 1 Felony

William Giraldo – Attempt Unlawful Possession of Cannabis with Intent to Deliver more than 5,000 grams, Class X Felony

Eric Alcantara – Unlawful Possession of Cannabis with Intent to Deliver more than 5,000 grams, Class X Felony

Sayed Hakim Hashemi – Unlawful Possession of Cannabis with Intent to Deliver more than 500 grams but less than 2,000 grams, Class 2 Felony

“Today’s conviction is a good first step in bringing all those involved in ‘Operation Chicago Haze’ to justice,” Berlin said. “We have a lot more work to do but I am confident today is just the beginning. I would like to thank all the agencies involved in this investigation. This operation is a perfect example of law enforcement agencies working together to achieve a common goal."

Berlin went on to say that the success of "Operation Chicago Haze" would not have been possible without the commitment and cooperation of everyone involved.

"I would also like to thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Audrey Anderson and Ken Tatarelis as well as John Kezdy, Bureau Chief of Lisa Madigan’s Statewide Grand Jury for their excellent legal representation on behalf of the people of DuPage County and the state of Illinois,” said Berlin.

“Thanks to our collaborative efforts in Operation Chicago Haze, we're ridding our community today of a known drug dealer,” said Attorney General Madigan. “We will continue to pursue drug offenders as part of this ongoing operation.”

Luzaj faces a penalty of six to thirty years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. His next court appearance is scheduled for August 24, 2011 for return of the pre-sentencing report.

The above is a press announcement from the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office. Check back at burrridge.patch.com for updates to this story.

Members of the public are reminded that the charges against the remaining individuals are not proof of the defendants’ guilt.  The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. For questions, please email sabrina@patch.com.