On January 11, 2023, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Group, a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) funded task force, concluded a narcotics investigation that resulted in serious charges for a man trafficking drugs.  

Following a several-month long investigation, members of the Sheriff’s Special Investigations Group conducted a search warrant at the home of Alexander Thomas, 34, of the 600 block of Sheridan Road, Winthrop Harbor.  During the search warrant nearly 100 grams of heroin, over 25 grams of cocaine, ecstasy, hydrocodone pills, and other drugs were recovered.  Detectives also seized a 9mm pistol during the search warrant.  

After reviewing the facts and circumstances, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved the following charges against Thomas:

2 Counts of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver (Class X Felonies)  

2 Counts of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Class 1 Felonies)

2 Counts of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Class 4 Felonies)

Thomas remains held in the Lake County Jail pending an initial court hearing this morning. 

Sheriff John D. Idleburg said, “This is yet another example of the outstanding work conducted by the members of our Special Investigations Group.  Thanks to the federal HIDTA designation we received for the group, we have tremendous resources to continue investigating and apprehending drug traffickers, violent gang members, those using firearms to commit crimes against others, and human traffickers.”

Winthrop Harbor Police Department, a member of the Sheriff’s Special Investigations Group, assisted in the investigation and at the scene.    

All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.