An investigation has led to the arrest of a 26-year-old man who authorities say was trafficking cocaine and firearms while unknowingly selling them to undercover officers in Lake and Cook counties.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Group (SIG) worked with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) – Chicago Field Division on a joint investigation.
The investigation resulted in the arrest of Andres Cardenas-Guerrero, 26, of Rosemont, for selling cocaine and firearms in Lake and Cook Counties.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said SIG detectives and ATF agents launched the investigation into Cardenas-Guerrero late last year.
They received information that he was involved in selling firearms and cocaine in Cook and Lake counties, Covelli said.
Covelli said Cardenas-Guerrero sold firearms and cocaine to undercover SIG detectives on several occasions in Cook and Lake counties.
Detectives earlier this month presented the facts and circumstances of the case to the Illinois Attorney General’s Office since the guns and firearm transactions occurred in two separate counties.
A statewide grand jury on January 9 returned an indictment charging Cardenas-Guerrero with armed violence, a Class X felony; four counts of unlawful delivery of cocaine, a Class 1 felony; and three counts of unlawful delivery of a firearm, a Class 4 felony.
An arrest warrant was issued and detectives on Thursday received information that Cardenas-Guerrero would be in the Deerfield area, Covelli said.
The SIG and the Deerfield Police Department took him into custody in the 0-100 block of Waukegan Road in Deerfield.
Cardenas-Guerrero remains held in the Lake County Jail and is set to appear for a detention hearing on Friday afternoon.
“The success of this investigation underscores the important role our Special Investigations Group plays in targeting serious criminal activity,” Sheriff John D. Idleburg said.
“Being a HIDTA funded task force, and working alongside our partners at the ATF, SIG detectives were able to take another dangerous offender off the street and again disrupt the illegal trafficking of firearms and narcotics into Lake County,” Idleburg said.
“ATF’s partnership with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Special Investigations Group is producing real results. Violent offenders trafficking firearms and narcotics have no place in our communities, and I am proud of our joint efforts to ensure Lake County remains a safe place for all,” ATF Chicago Field Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon said.