Wauconda family members deny pot charges

Three members of a Wauconda family charged with possession of a large quantity of marijuana pleaded not guilty Thursday in Lake County Circuit Court.

Anthony Vangelista, 24, and his parents Ken, 54, and Jill Vangelista, 50, face up to five years in prison if convicted of possession of marijuana with the intent to deliver and endangering the life of a child.

A fourth member of the family, Joseph Vangelista, 23, faces those charges and a count of armed violence because police said they found him with a loaded .22-caliber rifle within an arm's reach when they entered the house.

Assistant State's Attorney Scott Hoffert said agents of the Lake County Metropolitan Enforcement Group raided the family home in the 800 block of Larkdale Row on the night of Sept. 9.

Police said a monthlong investigation had developed evidence Joseph Vangelista was selling marijuana.

Several heat-sealed plastic bags containing a total of 2.3 pounds of marijuana were found in the house, Hoffert said, as well as $31,000 in cash.

Five rifles, three shotguns and three handguns and about 5,000 rounds of ammunition were also seized in the raid, Hoffert said.

All of the weapons police found were loaded, Hoffert said. The endangering the life of a child charges were added because two juvenile members of the family had access to the guns, he said.

Joseph Vangelista, who is held on $500,000 bond, pleaded not guilty Oct. 26 and is due to appear in court Nov. 16.

Circuit Judge Fred Foreman told the members of the family who appeared before him Thursday, all of whom are free on bond, to return to court Dec. 21.