The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Group (SIG), a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) funded task force, concluded a long-term investigation which led to the arrest of a Waukegan man who possessed a large amount of cocaine.
In May, members of SIG, which includes the Waukegan Police Department, began an investigation into Eldridge B. Ingram, 41, of the 500 block of May Street, Waukegan, after learning he was selling narcotics.
On August 22, 2023, following their investigation, members of SIG and Waukegan Police Department conducted a search warrant at Ingram’s home. During the search warrant, detectives located:
Over 180 grams of crack cocaine
Over 100 grams of cannabis
Four grams of powder cocaine
Multiple illegally possessed prescription medications
MDMA
Two stolen firearms
Multiple rounds of ammunition
Drug packaging equipment
After reviewing the facts and circumstances of the case, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved the following charges for Ingram:
Manufacturing/Delivering a Controlled Substance (Class X Felony)
Armed Habitual Criminal (Class X Felony)
Two Counts of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon (Class 3 Felonies)
Aggravated Unlawful Possession of Ammunition (Class 3 Felony)
Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Class 1 Felony)
Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Class 4 Felony)
Unlawful Possession of Cannabis with Intent to Deliver (Class 3 Felony)
Unlawful Possession of Cannabis (Class 4 Felony)
Winter M. Griffin, 36, of the same address, was at the home during the time of the search warrant and found to be in possession of cocaine. She was charged with one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance (class 4 felonies).
Sheriff John D. Idleburg said, “The collaboration our Special Investigations Group has with our federal and local law enforcement partners is incredible. This collaboration frequently leads to the arrests of drug traffickers and violent individuals who attempt to operate in Lake County.”
All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.