Homeless man charged in drug ring

A 21-year-old homeless man was accused Thursday of selling about $5,000 worth of heroin, Ecstasy and marijuana to undercover officers in Lake in the Hills, police said.

Kevin Kniesel faces 10 felony drug charges including possession of a controlled substance and delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a park, Illinois State Police Master Sgt. Tim Sebastian said.

Kniesel had sold drugs to members of the Illinois State Police North Central Narcotics Task Force, Sebastian said.

Kniesel's arrest is related to the Dec. 19 bust that resulted in the arrest of four Crystal Lake residents, police said.

Seized then was more than $48,000 worth of heroin, Ecstasy and marijuana from a home on the first block of Gates Street in Crystal Lake, police said.

Antonio Tirado, 20; Andrew McDermond, 25; Amanda Durrenberger, 20; and Amber Sturman, 25, all of Gates Street, face a combined 33 drug charges after a two-month investigation uncovered the haul, police said.

Kniesel is set to appear in bond call this morning.