A Lake County Jail inmate allegedly tried hiring a hitman, who was actually an undercover detective, to kill a witness in his home invasion case, sheriff officials said following a two-month investigation.
Ade Tramble, 45, of the 6300 block of North Hermitage Avenue in Chicago, was being held in the Lake County Jail on felony charges of home invasion, unlawful restraint and domestic battery from an incident in Zion.
He now faces an additional charge of solicitation of murder for hire following a two-month investigation by Lake County Sheriff’s detectives and the Lake County Sheriff Gang Task Force.
Lake County Sheriff Sgt. Christopher Covelli said that in December, Tramble was attempting to hire someone to kill a witness who was planning on testifying against him at trial.
Tramble started communicating with who he thought was a hitman, but was actually an undercover detective, Covelli said.
“If it weren’t for the complete and thorough investigation conducted by our detectives and members of the Sheriff’s Gang Task Force, we could have been investigating the murder of a witness,” Sheriff John Idleburg said.
“Witnesses should never fear for their safety or be intimidated into not testifying. We will always be here to protect the safety of victims and witnesses,” Idleburg added.
Tramble remains held in the Lake County Jail on a $500,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court next on March 14.