Two men charged with gun and drug felonies after county sheriff executes search warrants at Harvey home

Two people have been charged with gun and drug felonies after the Cook County Sheriff’s Office made arrests in Harvey this week, Sheriff Tom Dart announced Friday.

Demario Hughes, 46, of Harvey, and Dennis McCarty, 43, of Platteville, Wisconsin, have both been charged with aggravated use of a weapon and drug felonies after the county executed search warrants Wednesday following an investigation into potential drug activity.

Hughes was arrested during a traffic stop after officers observed him leaving the home in a vehicle even though his driver’s license was revoked, according to a news release from the sheriff. McCarty was seen leaving the house, returning later. The office then executed a search warrant of the home.

According to the sheriff, the following weapons and drugs were recovered from inside Hughes’ home:

• A 9mm “ghost” gun, missing its serial number;
• A .22 caliber handgun originally reported missing in Valparaiso, Indiana;
• A car, parked behind the home, that was originally reported stolen in Chicago; and
• Drugs, possibly identified as ecstasy, crack cocaine, psilocybin mushrooms, and a gray and purple powder;

McCarty was later taken into custody at the home, located in the 4th Ward. An additional search warrant for his vehicle recovered a .45 handgun, according to the sheriff’s office.

Neither Hughes nor McCarty have valid Firearm Owner Identification (FOID) cards, which allows an individual in Illinois to legally possess a handgun, according to the Office, and have prior felony convictions.

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office approved charges against both Hughes and McCarty on Thursday. Both will be detained pre-trial. Their next hearing is scheduled March 5.