(PRESS RELEASE) — The Lake County Sheriff’s Gang Task Force recently concluded a long-term investigation, in ongoing efforts to identify and arrest heroin dealers in Lake County. The Lake County Sheriff’s Gang Task Force worked with several federal partners including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations (DHS-HSI), during this long-term investigation.
During the long-term operation, task force detectives conducted numerous undercover purchases of drugs and guns at various locations throughout Lake County.
On January 25, 2017 members of the Sheriff’s Gang Task Force arrested Joshua D. Allen, 29, of Waukegan. Throughout the investigation undercover task force detectives purchased heroin from Allen on 10 separate occasions, totaling over 125 grams of heroin. On January 25th after a final undercover purchase of 19 grams of heroin, Allen was arrested in Waukegan. Allen was subsequently charged with five counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (class X felonies), five counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance (class 1 felonies), five counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (class 2 felonies), and five counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance (class 4 felonies).
Allen is being held in the Lake County Jail on $1,000,000.00 bail.
On January 26, 2017 members of the Sheriff’s Gang Task Force arrested Anthony E. Hubanks, 27, of Waukegan. Throughout the investigation, undercover members of the task force purchased over 70 grams of heroin from Hubanks. Additionally, undercover detectives purchased seven firearms from him. On January 26th, a final purchase was planned between undercover detectives and Hubanks. Hubanks and a passenger, Essex D. Styles, 24, of Round Lake, were found to be in possession of an AK-47 rifle and AK-47 pistol, both were arrested at the Lake Forest Oasis.
Hubanks is being held without bail in federal custody regarding the numerous weapons offenses.
Styles was subsequently charged with two counts of unlawful use/possession of a weapon by a felon (class 2 felonies), and two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon – no FOID card (class 2 felonies).
Styles is being held in the Lake County Jail on $250,000.00 bail.
On February 8, 2017 members of the Sheriff’s Gang Task Force arrested Darius M. Smith, 26, of Waukegan. During the investigation undercover members of the Sheriff’s Gang Task Force purchased over 25 grams of heroin from Smith. After obtaining an arrest warrant, Smith was arrested in Waukegan and charged with unlawful delivery of a controlled substance (class X felony), unlawful delivery of a controlled substance (class 1 felony), unlawful possession of a controlled substance (class 1 felony), and unlawful possession of a controlled substance (class 4 felony).
Smith remains held in the Lake County Jail on $750,000.00 bail.
On February 8, 2017, members of the Sheriff’s Gang Task Force arrested Kieshaun D. Smith, 21, of Gurnee. Undercover detectives purchased heroin from Smith, which also tested positive for fentanyl. Task force detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Smith for unlawful delivery of a controlled substance (class 2 felony) and unlawful possession of a controlled substance (class 4 felony). He was arrested in Gurnee on February 8th.
Smith is being held in the Lake County Jail on $250,000.00 bail.
Sheriff Mark Curran said, “I can’t emphasize it enough…drugs kill, plain and simple. Drugs and gangs destroy families and dreams. The Sheriff’s Gang Task Force will continue making it a priority to suppress drugs and gangs in our community.”
Undersheriff Ray Rose praised the long-term operation saying, “I couldn’t be more proud of the hard work and dedication by members of the Sheriff’s Gang Task Force. More and more communities are joining the task force, which is making us stronger in our efforts to keep Lake County safe. We will continue focusing our efforts combating gang and drug activity while continuing to educate the community.”
The Lake County Sheriff’s Gang Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional task force, run by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, consisting of local, county and federal agencies. Current participants in the Gang Task Force come from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Grayslake Police Department, Lakemoor Police Department, Lake County Forest Preserve Police, Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, Lake Villa Police Department, Mundelein Police Department, North Chicago Police Department, Park City Police Department, Wauconda Police Department, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI/ICE).