Feb. 26--A three week drug investigation led to the arrest of two alleged drug dealers this week in Lake County, police said.
The Lake County Sheriff's Gang Task Force received a tip Feb. 5 about possible "drug activity" in the 25000 block of Tamarack Drive in Wauconda and began an investigation, according to a statement from the sheriff's office.
On Feb. 24, deputies made a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by 36-year-old James A. Valenzuela, who police said was the target of the investigation. The deputies found Valenzuela to be in possession of 56 individually packaged bags of heroin, police said.
The heroin was "indicative of being packaged for sale," police said.
"Drug dealers destroy families and communities," Lake County Undersheriff Ray Rose said. "The Lake County Sheriff's Gang Task Force takes pride in keeping our towns safe and arresting those selling drugs in our communities."
Valenzuela, of the 25000 block of Tamarack Drive in Wauconda, was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, police said. He was ordered held on $125,000 bail and is scheduled to be back in court March 15.
Valenzuela was found guilty of felony possession of a controlled substance in 2004 and sentenced to 18 months in prison, according to court records.
Valenzuela's brother, 27-year-old Brian E. Crispin was also inside the vehicle. Deputies allegedly found him to be in possession of 16 individually packaged bags of heroin, police said.
Crispin, of the 500 block of North Maple Street in Prospect Heights, was also charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, police said. He was ordered held on $10,000 bail and will be back in court March 1.
"We encourage the community to keep an open line of communication with us," Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran said in a statement. "This investigation serves as a fine example of concerned citizens working with law enforcement to solve a problem in the community."
