Illinois Quick Hits: ICE arrests woman accused of helping never-charged shooting suspects

Illinois Quick Hits: ICE arrests woman accused of helping never-charged shooting suspects

Spread the love

(The Center Square) – U.S. Immigration and Enforcement officials have arrested a Venezuelan national who was accused of helping two alleged Tren de Aragua members evade law enforcement after a December 2024 shooting that left three people dead and others injured in Chicago.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says police found weapons in 32-year-old Giovanna Mercedes Moreno Occhipinti’s vehicle after she drove the two alleged shooters, Ricardo Granadillo Padilla and Edward Martinez Cermeno, following the crime. B

oth Granadillo Padilla and Martinez Cermeno were arrested and deported, but neither man was charged after being arrested in connection with the shooting.

DHS said Moreno Occhipinti was in the U.S. illegally and remains in custody pending removal.

LAKE COUNTY SHERIFF: DETECTIVES RESCUED GIRL FROM ALLEGED CHILD PORN SOLICITOR

The Lake County Sheriff’s office says county detectives rescued a girl from a man who traveled from Georgia to meet her.

Jordy Alexis Fuerte Perez, 24, is charged with solicitation of child pornography and unlawful possession of cocaine after he was discovered with a missing girl under the age of 14 in a parking lot near Libertyville.

Detectives used public safety camera technology to locate the suspect’s vehicle. The sheriff’s office says additional charges are likely.

PRITZKER, GOVERNORS OPPOSE ‘STOP CLIMATE SHAKEDOWNS ACT’

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has joined nine fellow governors urging Congress to reject recently-introduced legislation they say preempts the authority of state and local governments to implement laws that protect residents from climate change.

In a letter to U.S. House and Senate leaders, the governors say Senate Bill 4340 and HR 8330 also strip state and local governments of their ability to pursue legal action when corporations harm residents with pollution.

COOK COUNTY OFFERS $2 MILLION MORE IN DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE

Cook County officials have announced the allocation of $2 million for a third phase of the county’s down payment assistance program.

County taxpayers previously funded $11.6 million in down payment assistance during the first two phases of the program.

Last Wednesday, county board president Toni Preckwinkle announced a projected budget gap of $550.7 million for fiscal year 2027.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Illinois Quick Hits: Ex-sheriff employee ordered to repay $35,000

Illinois Quick Hits: Ex-sheriff employee ordered to repay $35,000

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A judge has ordered a former Cook County Sheriff’s office employee to pay more than $35,000 in...
Monee Township Graphic.4

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Monee Township Board for December 18, 2025

Monee Township Board Meeting | December 18, 2025 The Monee Township Board held a swift, 27-minute meeting on Thursday evening to close out the year's business. Led by Supervisor Donna...
Will County Board Graphic.03

Will County Public Works Advances $1.9 Million Improvement for Wilmington-Peotone Road

Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting | February 3, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Public Works and Transportation Committee has authorized a nearly $2 million contract for Phase I...
Screenshot 2026-02-04 at 2.15.33 PM

Monee’s Provision Market Brings Dignity to Food Assistance with ‘Client Choice’ Model

Article Summary: Provision Market in Monee is transforming the traditional food pantry experience by allowing neighbors to shop for their own groceries in a retail-style setting. The nonprofit emphasizes dignity...
Chicago’s $41 billion financial hole exposes city’s pension crisis

Chicago’s $41 billion financial hole exposes city’s pension crisis

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago finished fiscal year 2024 with a $41.1 billion gap between the money it has available...
Will Dial-A-Ride Service

Will County Public Works: Access Will County Dial-a-Ride Expands to All 24 Townships, Eliminating Borders

Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting | February 3, 2026 Article Summary:In a major overhaul of county transit, officials presented a quarterly report confirming that the Access Will County Dial-a-Ride...
Murder Suspect

Suspect Captured in Execution-Style Murder of Momence Bar Owner

Article Summary: Authorities have arrested a 47-year-old Indiana man in connection with the fatal shooting of Courtney Drysdale, the owner of a bar in rural Momence. The suspect was apprehended...
Early voting starts Thursday in most Illinois jurisdictions

Early voting starts Thursday in most Illinois jurisdictions

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Early voting is scheduled to begin Thursday in most Illinois jurisdictions for the state’s Democratic and Republican...
Illinois Quick Hits: Group files FOIA lawsuit vs. Pritzker

Illinois Quick Hits: Group files FOIA lawsuit vs. Pritzker

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Judicial Watch has filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. The suit...
First lady meets with former Oct. 7 hostages

First lady meets with former Oct. 7 hostages

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square American citizen and Chapel Hill, N.C. native, Keith Siegel and his wife Aviva focused their meeting with First Lady Melania Trump on hope and a...
Supreme Court declines challenge to California's congressional map

Supreme Court declines challenge to California’s congressional map

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to California's redistricting bid that would add more Democrat-majority districts in the state. In November, California...

Candidate: $243 million in unlawful spending is example of ‘Preckwinkle’s mismanagement’

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A candidate for Cook County board president says county spending of $243 million in violation of Illinois’...
GOP lawmakers urge Thune to tweak filibuster rules to pass voter ID bill

GOP lawmakers urge Thune to tweak filibuster rules to pass voter ID bill

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Dozens of Republicans are demanding that the U.S. Senate take up House-passed legislation implementing election security reforms – and they’re willing to restructure filibuster rules...
Illinois housing crunch sees prices rising, units dwindling

Illinois housing crunch sees prices rising, units dwindling

By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – With Illinois facing a housing shortage fueled by dwindling availability and rising prices, Illinois Policy Institute...
700 federal agents to leave Minnesota, Homan says

700 federal agents to leave Minnesota, Homan says

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The Trump administration will remove 700 federal agents who are assisting immigration enforcement measures in Minnesota, White House Border Czar Tom Homan said Wednesday. Homan...