Lake Co. couple admit to big marijuana sales operation
A Highwood couple admitted Wednesday they were part of a marijuana sales operation that had 173 pounds of product and more than $100,000 in cash on hand when police came calling.
Patricia Ralon, 33, and Hugo Ralon, 34, both pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana with the intent to deliver during a hearing before Lake County Circuit Judge Fred Foreman.
Assistant State's Attorney Scott Hoffert said Hugo Ralon was entering a white van parked outside a house in the 400 block of Portwine Road in Riverwoods around 1 p.m. on Nov. 12, 2008, when police arrived.
Waukegan police and agents of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration had a search warrant for the house, which Hugo Ralon told officers was being used as a "stash house."
Hugo Ralon said he had been told to go to the house to pick up some marijuana by Gabor Zsupan, 35, of Skokie, who was arrested later the same day.
Inside the house, police found 143 pounds of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and packaging material, two handguns, and ammunition.
They also confiscated $110,244 in cash, which Hoffert said was proceeds from marijuana sales.
The officers then went to the Ralons' home in the 300 block of Washington Street in Highwood, where his wife was taken into custody.
Another 30 pounds of marijuana, $3,600 in cash and a vacuum sealer and bags were confiscated there, officials said.
All of the money seized in the operation has been forfeited to the government, Hoffert said.
Patricia Ralon pleaded guilty to a felony charge that carried a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, and was placed on probation for two years.
Foreman also fined her $9,000, which will be paid immediately out of the $25,000 she posted for bond.
Her husband pleaded guilty to a charge carrying a mandatory prison sentence of between six and 30 years with an agreement he will face no more than eight years when he returns to court April 8.
Zsupan has pleaded not guilty to possession of marijuana with the intent to deliver and is scheduled to appear in court again Feb. 26.
He faces a mandatory prison sentence of between six and 30 years if convicted.