Man convicted in drug case that led to murder plot

A Carbondale man was convicted Wednesday of possession of more than five pounds of cocaine that he intended to sell to a Waukegan man.

His October 2005 arrest on the drug charge prompted Abdul Love, 29, to try to arrange for the murders of a Waukegan police officer and another man, a crime for which he was also found guilty.

As a result of both convictions, Love will be facing a minimum of 35 years in prison when he returns to face Circuit Judge Fred Foreman for sentencing on Aug. 25.

Assistant State's Attorney Scott Hoffert said Love was in a car with Michael Nelson, 34, of North Chicago, when they were stopped by police in Waukegan on Oct. 5, 2005.

Police found the cocaine in the trunk of the car, and Love later told police they were on their way to sell it to a man he identified only as "G."

While in the Lake County jail, Love attempted to hire an undercover Lake County sheriff's detective to kill Nelson and Waukegan police Officer Dominic Capppelluti.

The undercover officer recorded a number of conversations he had with Love about the killings that Love said he was willing to pay $45,000 to have done.

In a trial last October, Love claimed it was another jail inmate who tried to arrange the killings, but Foreman convicted Love despite that testimony.

On Wednesday, Love agreed not to challenge Hoffert's summary of the testimony that would be presented against him in the drug case, and Foreman again found him guilty.

Hoffert said Love faces prison sentences of between 20 to 40 years for solicitation of murder for hire and between 15 and 60 years on the drug charge.

He said because Love was in custody on the drug charge when he hatched the murder plot, the sentences must be served consecutively.

Nelson is free on bond and is scheduled to go on trial on the drug charge Aug. 24.