Drug Dealers Rode Ubers: Police

RIVERSIDE, IL — A man who headed a drug-dealing organization that involved the use of Ubers to transport drugs was arrested Wednesday, Riverside police said. Michael A. Silva, 29, a member of Satan Disciples, rented an apartment in Riverside, where three or four "runners" would come to his place to pick up drugs and ride Ubers or other ride-share services to sell them elsewhere.

The thinking behind the use of ride-share services was that if police stopped them, officers would be unable confiscate the vehicles because they were owned by ride-share drivers, not the drug organization, according to a Riverside police news release.

Asked whether riding Ubers would hinder a drug investigation, Riverside Police Chief Tom Weitzel said it would not. It's "just a new way of dealing drugs, a sign of the times. Rideshare is part of our everyday fabric in society," the chief said in an email.

Riverside police carried out a search warrant Nov. 2 at Silva's second-floor apartment at 22 East Ave., the release said. Silva was not at the apartment when police arrived, but he was arrested Wednesday without any problems outside the courthouse in Maywood. Silva, who was named in the search warrant, didn't sell drugs from the apartment, police said.

Silva told investigators that his Satan Disciple gang operates near 23rd Street and Oakley Avenue on Chicago's West Side, according to the news release. He was illegally subletting the apartment from the former renter because he feared the property management company would not rent to him because of his violent criminal background, gang affilation and his pit bulls, police said.

Silva's criminal history includes drugs, domestic violence and liquor violations, the news release said. He has been the recipient of at least two other search warrants executed in the suburbs.

In the apartment search, officers found marijuana, cocaine, Xanax, drug sales receipts and three large pit bulls, police said. They also seized tools for processing, preparing and cutting narcotics, the release said.

Additionally, police recovered $12,500 in cash and evidence of drugs sales and confiscated three pit bulls that were on premise to protect the drug operation, according to the release. The dogs are in the care of a veterinarian.

Silva was charged with possession of cocaine, ecstasy and Xanax. He also was charged with cocaine possession with the intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia.