The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Group (SIG), a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) funded task force, concluded a three-month investigation which led to the arrest of a Mundelein man who possessed nearly 8,000 fentanyl laced pills and three firearms.
In March, members of SIG, which includes the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Chicago Field Division and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) began an investigation after learning Oscar Pena, 22, of the 1000 block of Concord Circle, Mundelein, was selling firearms and illegal narcotics.
During the investigation, undercover detectives acquired three firearms, 15 grams of cocaine, and nearly 2,500 fentanyl laced pills.
On June 2, 2023, a search warrant was conducted at Pena’s home. During the search, nearly 5,500 fentanyl laced pills packaged for distribution, an additional firearm, and large quantity of ammunition was seized.
After reviewing the facts and circumstances of the incident, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved the following charges for Pena:
Armed Violence (Class X Felony)
Gun running (Class 1 Felony)
Possession of a defaced firearm (Class 3 Felony)
Two Counts of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon (Class 3 Felony)
Unlawful Possession of Ammunition by a Felon (Class 3 Felony)
Unlawful Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Deliver (Class 1 Felony)
Three Counts of Unlawful Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Deliver (Class 1 Felony)
Four Counts of Unlawful Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Deliver (Class X Felonies)
Eight Counts of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver (Class 4 Felonies)
Sheriff John D. Idleburg said, “This drug trafficker had the ability to end countless lives with the fentanyl laced pills he was trying to distribute throughout the region. Thanks to the strong partnerships included in our Special Investigations Group, we were able to utilize state and federal resources to investigate and arrest him. I am thankful for all who participated in this successful investigation.”
Pena remains held in the Lake County Jail on $1.5 million bail.
The Sheriff’s Office acknowledges the exceptional assistance of our federal and local SIG partners to include, ATF Downers Grove 1, DEA Group 31, FBI NRA-1, HSI TOC-Group, Park City PD, Round Lake Beach PD, Round Lake Park PD, Wauconda PD, Waukegan PD, Winthrop Harbor PD, Zion PD.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office also extended appreciation to the Mundelein Police Department who assisted in this investigation.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
— Lake County Sheriff’s Office
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