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Waukegan man accused of trying to sell kilo of cocaine to undercover officer

A Waukegan man has been charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance after trying to sell a kilogram of cocaine to an undercover police officer, authorities said Wednesday.

Jonathan Nieto, 33, of the 600 block of Bluff Street, was charged after a long-term drug operation by the Lake County Sheriff's Gang Task Force, authorities said.

During the operation, Nieto agreed to sell an undercover detective the kilo of cocaine, worth more than $30,000, authorities said. Nieto was taken into custody May 4 without incident after he arrived with the drugs for the sale to the undercover officer in Waukegan.

A search of Nieto's residence also revealed an additional 100 ounces of cocaine, a loaded semi-automatic pistol, and more than $1,900 in cash.

He is charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, unlawful use of a weapon, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. If found guilty of the most serious charge, he can spend up to 30 years in prison.

Authorities said police departments in North Chicago and Lake Villa, and the Lake County State's Attorney's Office are the newest agencies to join the Lake County Sheriff's Gang Task Force. The task force is comprised of officers from police departments in Fox Lake, Grayslake, Lake County Forest Preserve, Park City, Round Lake Park and Wauconda, along with officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

Anyone with information on gang and/or drug related activity is encouraged to call the Gang Task Force Tip-Line at (847) 377-4424 or Lake County Crime Stoppers at (847) 662-2222.

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