Fentanyl And Cocaine Operation Busted In Oak Lawn Apartment, Lovers Charged: Feds

OAK LAWN, IL — Federal agents broke up a massive fentanyl and cocaine operation in an Oak Lawn apartment, as part of a months-long drug conspiracy investigation, according to a federal criminal complaint.

Oak Lawn-resident Shantel Robinson, 31, also known as “Shantel Cheeks,” and her 32-year-old boyfriend, James Howard, of Frankfort, were arrested Thursday on drug conspiracy charges Frankfort.

The complaint alleges that Robinson’s Oak Lawn apartment in the 9500 block of South Ridgeland Avenue was being used as a drug lab.

The investigation began in January, when DEA agents with the arrest of a person identified in the complaint as “Individual C” leaving Robinson’s apartment. Agents stopped Individual C’s rental car, where they claim to have found multiple kilos of narcotics in Individual C’s rental car. Also recovered from the center console were various cell phones.

Law enforcement said a video recording from Oct. 7, 2024, showed a black male with long dreadlocks, later identified as Howard, standing at a kitchen counter cleaning a blender cup that appeared to be coated in a powdery substance.

The video also captured a plastic bag filled with white powder. Another man in the video appeared to be nodding off. At one point, the complaint alleged the person taking the video told the nodding off guest: “Man, I want you to see this. You always say why somebody do this and that. That and this. I want you to see it.”

James Howard in an October 2024 video from a seized cell phone | DEA

In April, law enforcement met with the landlord, identified in the complaint as “Individual A”, who said the apartment on Ridgeland was rented to a “Shantel Cheeks.” The landlord also identified the interior as being Robinson’s apartment in the October video. The landlord provided law enforcement with a key to the common areas of the building. Individual A is also said to have identified Howard as Robinson’s boyfriend.

The landlord also gave written and verbal consent for federal investigators to install two covert video cameras in the common areas of the building, including a camera placed near the door of Robinson’s third-floor apartment.

The complaint details the comings and goings of people to Robinson’s apartment building between June 5 and June 12. Drugs were concealed in comforter sets were left in the Ridgeland building’s common area, the feds allege.

In the early morning hours of June 6, Robinson and Howard left the Ridgeland apartment carrying the comforter set and out of view of the covert camera, the feds said. Moments later, Howard returned without the comforter.

Later that same morning, law enforcement went through the Dumpster behind Robinson’s building in a garbage bag that included a receipt from an Evergreen Park pizza parlor for “Shantel Cheeks.” Also found in the garbage bag were multiple items suspected to be drug manufacturing equipment, include an open vacuum-sealed bags, latex gloves, face masks, a box for a digital scale and two empty boxes of baking soda.

DEA agents also searched the comforter sets found in the third-floor common area at the Ridgeland Avenue building. Found were a knotted white plastic shopping bag and a container labeled “Super Mannitol” within the bag that field tested positive for fentanyl and cocaine, the complaint said. In total, law enforcement removed approximately 1.5 kilos of suspected fentanyl and approximately 850 grams of suspected cocaine before placing the comforter set back where they found it.

The feds allege that drugs were concealed inside comforter sets. | DEA

Surveillance footage showed Howard and Robinson walk up the stairs of the Ridgeland building around 7:30 p.m. Robinson let herself into the apartment, Howard immediately went to the walkway but returned empty-handed. He walked downstairs and, after a minute, ran back into the apartment. Law enforcement believe Howard was looking for a blanket missing from the comforter set.

A few minutes later, the landlord reported to law enforcement of receiving a call from Robinson, stating that she was looking for some blankets. Later that evening, the landlord contacted law enforcement a second time, stating that Robinson called to check if the landlord had spoken to the neighbor about the missing blankets.

On June 10, according to surveillance footage, federal agents said Robinson and Howard discovered the covert camera at the top of the staircase and ducked out of the frame. Howard was seen leaving Robinson’s apartment. He looked toward the camera before it was disconnected, the complaint said.

James Howard carrying a comforter set in which federal agents claim drugs were concealed.

The next morning, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Robinson's Oak Lawn apartment, where they claimed to have recovered multiple clear plastic bags which field tested positive for fentanyl. In total, the complaint alleges federal agents recovered 1.5 kilos of fentanyl, 850 grams of presumptive cocaine, a stolen handgun with a drum magazine, a rifle with a defaced serial number, gas masks, face masks, multiple blenders covered in powder, vacuum seal packaging, two hydraulic kilogram pressers, super mannitol, three empty Rolex watches and a cardboard box labeled Narcan.

Federal agents also found mail addressed to Howard, but not Robinson, in the search, the complaint said. Agents believe that Robinson’s apartment was not used as a primary residence, but as a drug manufacturing operation, the complaint said. Most of the items found were laying in plain view for anyone to see.

On June 12 the heat was on. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Robinson’s Alsip storage unit in the 4800 block of west 115th Street. The unit was registered to “Shantel Cheeks,” with Howard listed as an emergency contact. Law enforcement was near the storage facility when they saw the gray Dodge Durango entering the business. When federal agents identified themselves to the driver — Individual D — they said he tried to flee. He was taken into custody moments later.

During the search of Robinson's storage space, law enforcement claimed to have found four Glock-style handguns, two boxes of conversion devices, and approximately five kilos of suspected narcotics.

Howard is also alleged to be feeling the heat. Walking toward surveillance vehicles in front of his house in the 21900 block of Mary Drive in Frankfort. As Howard approached the surveillance team camped in front of his house, the vehicles pulled away. The complaint claims Howard was observed walking around the neighborhood, as if conducting his own countersurveillance.

Howard and Robinson were detained before federal agents moved in with a search warrant at Howard's Frankfort residence. There, agents claim they found a vacuum sealer, and a camera similar in appearance to the covert camera at Robinson’s apartment. Law enforcement also saw a money counter and a wet nylon drawstring in the master bathroom sink, the complaint said.

Both were due for an initial appearance in federal court Monday in Chicago.