A Beach Park man arrested for possessing eight pounds of cannabis and over $143,000 in cash in Antioch has been released from custody after posting 10% of his $250,000 bond.
An Antioch police officer conducted a traffic stop around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday in the 1100 block of Main Street in Antioch.
Officers recovered a large amount of drugs and cash while searching the vehicle, according to Village of Antioch Communication Manager Jim Moran.
The driver, Kewan Hampton, 24, of Beach Park, was arrested at the scene.
Officers seized eight pounds of cannabis and $143,337 in cash, Moran said.
They also found 20 unknown pills stamped with similar markings as Xanax. Those have been sent to the crime lab for further analysis.
Hampton was charged with unlawful possession of cannabis, a Class 2 felony, and possession of cannabis with the intent to distribute, a Class 1 felony.
The cash and vehicle seized are pending asset forfeiture proceedings.
Antioch Police Chief Geoffrey Guttschow said the arrest will make a “big impact” on the safety of area residents.
“Any interruption we can make in the organized drug community is a win for Antioch and the greater Lake County area,” Guttschow said.
“Eight pounds of cannabis coupled with over $143,000.00 in cash indicates this was part of a larger operation,” the police chief said.
Guttschow commended the proactive work of the Antioch Police Department’s midnight shift.
“This arrest is the result of proactive police work done by dedicated officers to make our community safer,” Guttschow said. “I commend the dedication and hard work of our officers.”
Guttschow said a Lake County Sheriff’s Office canine unit assisted during the traffic stop.
Hampton appeared in court Wednesday and was ordered held on a $250,000 bond by Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak.
He was released from the Lake County Jail the same day after posting $25,000 cash.
A status of preliminary hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.