Last person charged in drug raid pleads guilty

The last of five people charged in connection with a drug raid in a Fox Lake house pleaded guilty Friday in Lake County circuit court.

Steven Malgren, 37, of 85 Lawrence Ave., Fox Lake, was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to delivery of cocaine.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Brett Henne said Malgren sold cocaine on two occasions to undercover officers of the Lake County Metropolitan Enforcement Group.

Henne said Malgren was getting the cocaine from John Gillespie, whose house at 49 Marvin Place in Fox Lake was the target of the Oct. 24 raid. Police found a little more than four ounces of cocaine during that search.

Gillespie pleaded guilty Wednesday to delivery of cocaine and was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Sheryl Ellison, 37, of the same address, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and was placed on probation for two years.

Jeffery Tibbs, 32, and Melissa Deering, 20, both of 26350 Wooster Lake Ave., Ingleside, were inside the house at the time of the raid and were also charged.

Both pleaded guilty last month to possession of cocaine. Tibbs was placed on probation for two years, and Deering received an 18-month probationary term.

Henne said all five faced a mandatory prison sentence of nine to 40 years if convicted of the original charges against them.