Lake County Gang Task Force announces seizures from gangs

The Lake County Sheriff's Office has announced some of their success through the newly created gang task force.

Since its creation six months ago, the Lake County Sheriff's Office Gang Task Force has been instrumental in seizing more than $259,000 in U.S. currency, 26 guns, and eight vehicles, Lake County Sheriff's Det. Christopher Covelli said.

Covelli also said the task force has seized:

• 57 pounds of marijuana, worth a street value of $1.24 million;

• 991 grams of powder cocaine, worth a street value of $1.7 million;

• 613 prescription pills, with a street value of $6,284;

• 191 grams of crack cocaine, with a street value of $19,040;

• 156 grams of heroin, with a street value of $243,120;

• 7 ecstasy pills, with a street value of $175;

• 5 hits of acid, with a street value of $100.

"No matter where you are in Lake County, gang activity will not be tolerated," Lake County Undersheriff Raymond Rose said. "The Lake County Gang Task Force will continue to aggressively pursue and arrest those involved in illegal gang activity. We look forward to adding additional member agencies in the year to come."

The task force is a multijurisdictional law enforcement group run by the Lake County Sheriff's Office, Covelli said. It consists of local, county and federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigations, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, Lake County Forest Preserve Police, Grayslake Police Department, Park City Police Department, and Fox Lake Police Department.

Covelli said the task force was created to combat and prevent criminal gang activity in Lake County. The areas of enforcement include but are not limited to narcotics, human trafficking, gun trafficking and money laundering, all of which are a means to further gang activity.

"I'm very proud of the impact the Lake County Sheriff's Gang Task Force has made over the last six months," Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran said in a news release. "They are making positive results in keeping Lake County safe by responding to the numerous problems fueled by gang members."

Anyone with information on gang and/or drug related activity is encouraged to call the Gang Task Force Tip-Line at: (847) 377-4424 or Lake County Crime Stoppers at: (847) 662-2222.