A Waukegan man has been sentenced to probation after authorities said he was trafficking drugs in Lake County following an undercover operation where he sold drugs down the street from an elementary school.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Group (SIG) concluded an investigation in July 2025 that resulted in the arrest of Agustin Arias, Jr., 42, of Waukegan, for drug trafficking.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said at the time of his arrest that SIG began the investigation after developing information that Arias was selling narcotics.
Detectives initiated an undercover operation and found Arias was selling cocaine in Lake County, Covelli said.
Arias sold drugs to undercover detectives several times within 500 feet of an elementary school during the operation, Covelli said.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Savannah Halcomb said the transactions occurred from April 2025 to May 2025 at Arias’ residence in the 900 block of Woodlawn Avenue, which is down the street from Glen Flora Elementary School.
Officers observed children present at the school at the time of each of the transactions.
On one of the occasions, Arias gave the undercover officer advice on how to be better at buying and selling drugs, Halcomb said.
Detectives arrested Arias on July 17 following a traffic stop and went to Arias’ residence.
His wife gave consent to enter the home and she directed officers to a closet where a firearm with a defaced firearm was located, Halcomb said.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the case and approved the charges of three counts of delivery of a controlled substance within 500 feet of a school, a Class X felony.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Arias in custody while awaiting trial and the petition was granted by Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim.
Court records show Arias entered into a negotiated plea deal with the state’s attorney’s office last month.
He pleaded guilty to one count of manufacturing or delivering 1-15 grams of cocaine, a Class 1 felony, in exchange for the rest of his charges being dismissed.
Arias was sentenced to 48 months of probation and a 24-hour curfew. He was ordered not to consume alcohol or drugs and submit to random screenings.
A sentence of 180 days in the county jail was considered served upon the plea since he had accumulated 293 days in custody while awaiting trial, court records show.
Arias was also ordered not to be within 300 feet of a school and to pay over $5,100 in court fines and fees.