Trio Accused in Retail Theft Also Face Drug Charges After Investigation: Cops

Lake Forest, IL—Two women and a man face drug charges after police investigated them concerning a retail theft incident June 30, according to Lake Forest police.

The following individuals were arrested and charged with felony retail theft and possession of a controlled substance or drug paraphernalia:

• Lilia R. Ruiz De la Vega, 22, of the 1400 block of Windsor Circle, Carpentersville,
• Maxim Ganzenko, 31, of the 100 block of North Harbor Drive, Chicago
• Carmen R. Stahlberg, 35, of the 100 block of North Sangamon Street, Chicago

Ganzenko also had an outstanding arrest warrant for larceny for an unrelated incident.

Police pulled over Ruiz De la Vega, Ganzenko and Stahlberg after the trio and their vehicle matched the description of suspects involved in an earlier retail theft at a store in the 500 block of Western Avenue, the police report stated. During that theft, two people stole items from the retailer and escaped in a vehicle driven by a third person, the report added.

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While interviewing the trio at the scene, police did a consent search of the car and found the merchandise that had been reported stolen, according to the report. The search also discovered that the suspects all were in possession of controlled substances or drug paraphernalia, the report added.

Two of the suspects later were identified as the individuals who were allegedly involved in the retail theft.

Ganzenko was held on $90,000 bail, and his court date was Wednesday, July 6. Ruiz De la Vega, whose court date also was Wednesday, was held on $20,000. Stahlberg was held on $60,000, and his court date is July 20.

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