A former professional soccer player from Mexico facing charges after being caught with a large amount of cocaine near Gurnee has been arrested again on an $850,000 warrant after skipping court.
Luis Sandoval-Oliva, 41, of Aurora, was charged in February 2021 with manufacturing or delivering more than 900 grams of cocaine, unlawful possession of cocaine, driving while license suspended and driving with no insurance.
The charges stemmed from a traffic stop where the Lake County Sheriff’s Office stopped Sandoval-Oliva’s vehicle on February 2, 2021, as it traveled westbound Interstate 94 south of Grand Avenue in Gurnee.
A deputy pulled Sandoval-Oliva over because he was following the car in front of him too closely, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said at the time.
The deputy spoke with Sandoval-Oliva, who was driving with a suspended driver’s license and did not have insurance.
Covelli said that Lake County Sheriff’s Office Canine Duke arrived on the scene and conducted a sniff around the vehicle.
Duke gave a positive indication that drugs were in the car.
Deputies searched the vehicle and found Sandoval-Oliva in possession of approximately one kilogram — or 2.2 pounds — of cocaine, Covelli said.
He was arrested and transported to the Lake County Jail.
A judge set Sandoval-Oliva’s bond at $50,000. He posted $5,000 cash and was released from custody.
In July 2021, Sandoval-Oliva failed to appear at a court hearing and an arrest warrant was issued.
The warrant was later quashed after Sandoval-Oliva appeared in court.
Court records show Sandoval-Oliva again failed to appear in court last August and a judge issued a warrant carrying an $850,000 bond.
Sandoval-Oliva was taken into custody on the warrant last week and a judge kept his bond at $850,000.
Sandoval-Oliva, known as “El Nego,” began a professional career with Chivas Guadalajara in 2002 before playing for several different soccer teams until 2014 when he retired.
During his career, he also played for the Mexico national team.
In 2016, he signed a three-year contract to play with the Chicago Mustangs of the Major Arena Soccer League.
Sandoval-Oliva, who remains held in the jail, is scheduled to appear in court again on Wednesday for a status of attorney hearing.