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Zion man accused of illegally possessing firearms, trafficking drugs

A Lake County task force investigation has led to the arrest of a Zion man on charges of illegally possessing firearms and selling cocaine.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Group, a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area-funded task force, was tipped off to potential drug trafficking.

Amado Palma-Yanes, 38, of the 2000 block of Hebron Avenue, is charged with three counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, Class 3 felonies; unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, a Class 1 felony; unlawful possession of a controlled substance, Class 4 felony; and obstructing justice, a Class 4 felony.

An investigation determined Palma-Yanes had an active arrest warrant for unlawful possession of a controlled substance dating back to 2012. Detectives determined Palma-Yanes had several alias names he used to avoid apprehension.

On Tuesday, task force members conducted a traffic stop and took Palma-Yanes into custody on the warrant. When pulled over, Palma-Yanes provided a false identification card with one of his alias names. He was found to be in possession of cocaine, authorities said.

Detectives recovered three illegally possessed firearms from Palma-Yanes’ home, during a search in conjunction with investigation. One of the firearms was personally manufactured, without a serial number. Additional evidence was seized from Palma-Yanes’ home, consistent with drug trafficking, authorities said.

Investigators also seized a safe at Palma-Yanes’ home, after a sheriff’s K-9 honed in on it for the presence of narcotics. Detectives are seeking a search warrant for the safe.

Additional charges are possible against Palma-Yanes.

The Lake County state’s attorney’s office filed a petition to detain Palma-Yanes while awaiting trial. The court Wednesday morning ordered him held pending a detention hearing scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

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