The sheriff’s office and the ATF charged 10 suspects in a Lake County gang, effectively dismantling the gang’s operation of drug trafficking and violent acts, authorities announced.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Group (SIG), a High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) funded task force, took numerous street gang members into custody on Wednesday with the help of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) – Chicago Field Division.
The long-term investigation into the street gang known as “Satan Disciple” began over a year ago, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
Members of this street gang were involved in both drug trafficking and violent acts throughout Lake County, according to Lake County Sheriff Spokesman Lt. Christopher Covelli.
Throughout the investigation, undercover members of SIG seized 15 firearms along with firearm ammunition.
During the investigation, SIG detectives were able to successfully stop at least two planned drive-by shootings that members of the street gang ordered to take place in Lake County.
In at least one of the ordered drive-by shootings, there were numerous people home at the intended residence, which could have resulted in multiple casualties, Covelli said.
In addition to the firearms, SIG detectives seized over 4,000 grams of cocaine and over 170 grams of methamphetamine.
Quentin L. Newbrey, 31, of the 4000 block of Ridge Road in Zion, was charged with armed habitual criminal, two counts of aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon and unlawful sale of a firearm.
Carl P. Marder-Grant, 27, of the 500 block of Chestnut Street in Waukegan, was charged with unlawful sale of a firearm and two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.
Darryl Benjamin, 38, of the 1000 block of Lakehurst Drive in Waukegan, was charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
Gilberto Alvarado-Cuen, 29, of the 3400 block of Ted Avenue in Park City, was charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
Anthony Brown, 39, of the 100 block of North Milwaukee Avenue in Lake Villa, is wanted on five counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and five counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
Eric W. Gragen, 39, of the 8000 block of 48th Avenue in Kenosha, Wisconsin, is wanted on three counts of straw purchasing of a firearm.
Four additional individuals were apprehended on federal arrests warrants in connection with the long-term investigation and will be transferred to the Federal Bureau of Prison’s Metropolitan Correctional Center for their detention hearings.
“This is precisely the reason we have refocused the efforts of our Special Investigations Group toward investigating and arresting violent drug traffickers. The tireless work of our detectives and partner agencies undoubtedly stopped instances of cold-blooded murder from taking place in our county,” Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg said.
“I could not be prouder of the hard work of our detectives and I am incredibly thankful for the terrific partnerships we have with our local and federal partners. It is this type of collaboration that will continue dismantling the ability of gangs being able to operate in Lake County and keep our community safe,” Idleburg added.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Special Investigations Group is composed of detectives, agents, and staff from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security, Lake County Forest Preserve Police, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, North Chicago Police Department, Park City Police Department, Round Lake Beach Police Department, Wauconda Police Department, Waukegan Police Department and Zion Police Department.
This was a High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Initiative and funded by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), the sheriff’s office said.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations in the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.