21 Mugshots Released By Joliet Police In Operation Streetsweeper

JOLIET — Several of the Joliet area's most wanted criminal defendants were rounded up by the Joliet Police Department during the past 24 hours as part of a no-nonsense initiative involving Police Chief Bill Evans and Will County State's Attorney Jim Glasgow called Operation Streetsweeper.

Here are some of the police chief's prepared remarks he gave at the 2 p.m. press conference, which was carried live by Joliet Patch. You can watch it in its entirety below.

"I am pleased to report that Operation Streetsweeper has resulted in the arrest of 21 individuals for a wide range of offenses such as aggravated battery with a firearm, narcotics delivery, burglary, felony theft, and felony retail theft, among other felony offenses. Many, if not all, of those arrested are repeat offenders who have continued to pose a threat to our community," Chief Evans said.

Joliet's police chief went on to say: "We will not tolerate senseless acts of violence in our community. If you choose to engage in illegal activities that threaten the safety of our residents, know this—you will be located, you will be arrested, and you will be held accountable. We have zero tolerance for those who terrorize our neighborhoods, harm innocent people, or contribute to the cycle of violence. Our officers, along with our local and federal partners, are dedicated to tracking down and bringing to justice anyone who believes they can escape the consequences of their actions."

In addition to the 21 defendants already captured, Joliet police say they are attempting to arrest at least another 10.

Several of the Joliet area's high-profile criminal defendants were included in Wednesday's roundup, including Joliet resident Mary Beth Mosqueda, who was charged on Aug. 6 with two counts of failure to report a crash involving death.

On March 9, Laurie K. Cooper, 53, of Plainfield, and her husband Danny L. Cooper, a 68-year-old Plainfield man, were found dead at 11:55 p.m. in the 2100 block of Plainfield Road, the result of a motor vehicle and pedestrian collision.

Mosqueda had been in the Will County Jail on four different occasions in 2023 as a result of unrelated criminal charges, including aggravated battery to a police officer in November.

Now, a month after the warrant for her arrest was issued, Joliet police tracked her down.

Angel Vargas, the brother of one of Joliet's most notorious shooting defendants, John Roy "Johnny" Hernandez Jr., was also captured during the Joliet police's Operation Streetsweeper.

In June 2022, Joliet Patch reported that John Roy Hernandez Jr., 20, and his 21-year-old brother Angel Santiago-Vargas were back in the Will County Jail, facing a $1 million bail, following an 11 p.m. shooting in the 500 block of Joliet Township's Miami Street.

A woman suffered two gunshot wounds and a man was not injured by the gunfire. The two were outside on their porch when Hernandez and his older brother fired several gunshots at the couple, according to sheriff's reports.

"Operation Streetsweeper was a targeted effort by the Joliet Police Department and our local and federal law enforcement partners to address violent crime, identifying wanted individuals in the Joliet area who pose a serious threat to public safety in our city," Evans said Thursday at the press conference. "They include those involved in acts of gun violence, individuals engaged in illegal drug trade, those who have physically harmed innocent victims, and repeat felony theft offenders.

"By removing these dangerous individuals from our streets, we are taking significant steps to reduce the risk to our community and restore a sense of security to our neighborhoods ... This operation was also specifically designed to address the recent increase in violent crime in the Joliet area, including a concerning number of violent crimes involving firearms that has created a valid concern not only for our residents, but the Joliet Police Department as well."

Another notable criminal defendant rounded up in Operation Streetsweeper was Willis Davis. In May, Joliet Patch reported that three days after emerging from the Will County Jail after regaining his freedom under the SAFE-T-Act, the 36-year-old Davis was taken into custody by Joliet police on more high volume retail theft charges. That particular May arrest involved five separate liquor theft charges from the Joliet Walgreen s at 1163 W. Jefferson St. in April and May.

This week, the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow filed felony charges against 25-year-old Joliet resident D'Amonta Barber in connection with an early morning shooting at a house in the 1400 block of North Center Street in Joliet. Nevin McMurtry and Barber are accused by Joliet police of shooting their guns at a building they knew was occupied. A total of 46 shell casings were found in the street by Joliet police back around 5:30 a.m. on July 24.

Barber is back in the Will County Jail while police are still trying to find Barber's 22-year-old co-defendant McMurtry, who lives in Romeoville.