An admitted drug trafficker has been sentenced to five years in prison after police found nearly $40,000 in cash and a kilogram of cocaine hidden in the air vents of his home in Waukegan.
Danny Wence-Cuevas, 39, of Waukegan, was charged in March 2025 with manufacturing or delivery of more than 900 grams of cocaine, a Class X felony, and possession of more than 900 grams of cocaine, a Class 1 felony.
The Waukegan Police Department executed a search warrant at Wence-Cuevas’ residence in the 500 block of South Jackson Street in Waukegan on March 19.
The warrant was the result of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigation Group (SIG) conducting controlled buys of cocaine from Wence-Cuevas, according to Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Nicholas Shepherd.
Officers located 1,012 grams of a white, rock-like substance in the vents of the house’s basement.
The white rock-like substance field tested positive for the presence of cocaine. The drugs were worth approximately $100,000, according to the DEA.
The cocaine was found in various plastic bags, and in each bag, the cocaine was split into four separate bags, Shepherd said.
Officers also located a scale and empty plastic sandwich bags in the rafters in the basement.
Shepherd said a driver’s license and passport belonging to Wence-Cuevas were located in a bedroom.
Officers found $11,000 in cash in the bedroom and $27,620 in cash in another closet of the home.
Officers located $1,000 in cash in an open safe. All currency bills were in denominations of $100, $50 and $20.
Shepherd said SIG agents were able to locate several bills they had used during the controlled buys with Wence-Cuevas.
Wence-Cuevas admitted that he sells cocaine and uses it to pay for his bills, Shepherd said.
He also told investigators he gets a kilogram, also known as a “brick,” of cocaine every other month from his supplier, Shepherd said.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Wence-Cuevas pending trial, a request that was granted by Lake County Judge Ari Fisz following a detention hearing after he was arrested.
Attorney Robert T. Ritacca, who is representing Wence-Cuevas, said his client is a United States citizen and is not a flight risk or part of the cartel. He sought Wence-Cuevas’ release pending trial.
Wence-Cuevas has remained held in the Lake County Jail and recently entered into a negotiated plea deal with the state’s attorney’s office.
Court records show Wence-Cuevas pleaded guilty to counts of possession of up to 100 grams of cocaine and possession of narcotics on Jan. 26.
As part of a fully negotiated plea, he was sentenced to 5 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, 48 months of probation, 200 hours of community service and is not allowed to partake in drugs, alcohol, or cannabis upon his release from prison, court records show.
Wence-Cuevas also received 314 days of credit for time already served in Lake County Jail.
Had Wence-Cuevas been found guilty of the most serious charge at trial, he could have been sentenced up to 60 years in prison.