Lake County Gazette

The Lake County Sheriff's Office Special Investigations Group (SIG), a task force funded by the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, recently made arrests involving individuals accused of selling drugs near an elementary school.

According to a news release, SIG developed information that Agustin Arias Jr., 41, of the 900 block of Woodlawn Avenue, Waukegan, was allegedly involved in narcotics sales. An undercover operation revealed that Arias was selling cocaine in Lake County. Sheriff's detectives reported that the suspect sold drugs to undercover officers multiple times within 500 feet of an elementary school. Arias was taken into custody on July 17 following a traffic stop. The Lake County State's Attorney's Office reviewed the case and approved charges of three counts of delivery of a controlled substance within 500 feet of a school. Arias remained in the Lake County Jail with his next court date set for August 6.

In another case, the SIG task force's investigation into Shanese N. Richardson, also from Waukegan, led to her arrest and multiple charges related to drug trafficking. The Sheriff's Office said that SIG had gathered information indicating Richardson was allegedly selling narcotics. An undercover investigation found she was distributing crack cocaine in Lake County. Detectives obtained a search warrant for her residence, which they executed on July 14. Before executing the warrant, they observed Richardson leaving her home in a vehicle and conducted a traffic stop where she was found with a loaded pistol, over 20 grams of crack cocaine, and more than 5 grams of heroin laced with fentanyl prepared for distribution.

During the search of Richardson's home, detectives seized approximately 60 grams of crack cocaine, over 50 grams of heroin laced with fentanyl, and more than 170 grams of methamphetamine.

The Lake County State's Attorney's Office reviewed this investigation as well and approved several charges against Richardson: three counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver; unlawful possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver; unlawful possession of methamphetamine; armed violence—all Class X felonies—two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance—a Class 1 felony—and unlawful possession of a controlled substance—a Class 4 felony.

All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.