A Lake Villa man was arrested after police and the ATF found him in possession of three kilos of cocaine. He was also charged with tax fraud and money laundering.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Group and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) – Downers Grove Field Office & Chicago Field Office concluded a narcotics investigation, officials said.
Lake County Sheriff’s Special Investigations Group detectives obtained a search warrant on Friday for the residence of Anthony L. Brown, 38, of the 100 block of North Milwaukee Avenue in Lake Villa.
Lake County Sheriff Spokesman Lt. Christopher Covelli said that Brown is a documented street gang member and was out on bond from a 2020 arrest made by the Lake County Sheriff’s Special Investigations Group.
Court records show Brown’s 2020 arrest by the sheriff’s office was due to authorities finding him in possession of a large amount of meth and a small amount of cocaine.
During the Friday search warrant, Brown was found to be in possession of nearly three kilograms of powder cocaine and a semi-automatic firearm, Covelli said.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved charges of manufacturing/delivery of more than 900 grams of cocaine, unlawful possession of more than 900 grams of cocaine and felon in possession of a firearm.
Prosecutors also approved charges of money laundering, three counts of structuring a transaction, income tax fraud and two counts of destroying a serial number.
Details regarding those additional charges were not immediately available because the court case was ordered sealed from the public.
Brown remains held in the Lake County Jail on a $750,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court again on Friday.
“We have zero tolerance for those who traffic drugs in our community. This case was the culmination of great teamwork between the members serving in our Special Investigations Group and our federal partners, which will prevent nearly three kilos of cocaine from making it into our community,” Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg said.