Cops: Four in Wauconda family sold pot

Four members of a Wauconda family face criminal charges after police found marijuana, weapons and a large amount of cash in their house.

Larry Lindenman, director of the Lake County Metropolitan Enforcement Group, said the four were arrested Thursday night after a raid on their house in the 800 block of Larkdale Row.

Lindenman said a monthlong investigation developed evidence that Joseph Vangelista, 22, was selling marijuana.

Officers armed with a search warrant went to the house about 8 p.m., Lindenman said, and found Vangelista, his three siblings and his parents in the house.

Police found several heat-sealed plastic bags in several areas of the house, Lindenman said, containing a total of 2.3 pounds of marijuana.

About $31,000 in cash, five rifles, three shotguns and three handguns were also found in the house, Lindenman said, and all of the weapons were loaded.

Police also found 5,000 rounds of ammunition and a ledger recording the marijuana sales, Lindenman said.

Assistant State's Attorney Marc Bangser said Joseph Vangelista, his older brother Anthony Vangelista, 24, and their parents Ken, 53, and Jill Vangelista, 50, are all charged with possession of marijuana with the intent to deliver.

All four are also charged with endangering the life of a child, Bangser said, because two juvenile members of the family had access to the loaded weapons.

Joseph Vangelista is also charged with armed violence, Bangser said, because there was a quantity of marijuana and a loaded .22-caliber rifle within an arm's reach of him when police entered the house.

Armed violence is punishable by up to 15 years in prison, possession of marijuana with the intent to deliver carries a maximum penalty of five years and endangering a child can bring a sentence of one year in jail upon conviction.

Anthony, Jill and Ken Vangelista were ordered held on $10,000 bond each, Bangser said, and Joseph Vangelista is held on $500,000 bond.

All four suspects are due to appear in court Sept. 20.