The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Group (SIG), a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) funded task force, concluded an investigation that resulted in the arrest of a Waukegan woman for drug trafficking.
SIG began the investigation after developing information that Shanese N. Richardson, 41, of the 2800 block of Osage Circle, Waukegan, was selling narcotics. SIG detectives initiated an undercover operation and discovered Richardson was selling crack cocaine in Lake County.
Following the investigation, SIG detectives obtained a search warrant for Richardson’s home, which was executed on July 14, 2025. Just prior to conducting the search warrant, SIG detectives observed Richardson leaving her home in a vehicle and conducted a traffic stop on her. She was found to be in possession of a loaded pistol, over 20 grams of crack cocaine and over 5 grams of heroin laced with fentanyl, packaged for distribution.
During the search warrant of Richardson’s home, detectives seized an additional nearly 60 grams of crack cocaine, over 50 grams of heroin laced with fentanyl, and over 170 grams of methamphetamine.
Detectives reviewed the entire investigation with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office who approved the following charges:
Three Counts of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver (Class X Felonies)
Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver (Class X Felony)
Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine (Class X Felony)
Armed Violence (Class X Felony)
Two Counts of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Class 1 Felonies)
Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Class 4 Felony)
“Our Special Investigations Group once again did an outstanding job removing a drug trafficker from our Lake County community,” said Sheriff John D. Idleburg. “Our agency and SIG are committed to identifying and arresting those who traffic drugs, firearms, and people. We will go to all lengths to keep our community safe.”
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Richardson while awaiting trial. Richardson appeared in court this morning and was ordered held pending a detention hearing this afternoon.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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