Drug Dealer's Jeep Wrangler Faces Forfeiture: Complaint

NEW LENOX, IL - The Will County State's Attorney's Office of James Glasgow wants the 2010 Jeep Wrangler owned by the New Lenox family of Rex J. Stengele to be declared as a forfeited drug asset. The 19-year-old was arrested in April by sheriff's police on charges of manufacturing marijuana. The defendant lives in the 2500 block of Emily Lane, court records show.

The forfeiture complaint states that a sheriff's deputy saw the New Lenox teenager "sell a confidential source two baggies of cannabis ... during the first week of April 2018."

Then, at 1:15 p.m. on April 17, Will County's gang suppression unit showed up at the house on Emily Lane announcing they had a search warrant. Court documents state that Rex C. Stengele, then age 78, "walked towards the glass door, waiving officers into the residence. The entry team then entered the house."

Court records indicate that the police "target," Rex J. Stengele, 19, was down in the basement.

Here's what the police raid turned up, the forfeiture complaint states:

• 2 clear Ziploc bags each containing a green leafy substance, suspected cannabis
• 1 black digital weight scale with green residue on the weight plate.
• 1 shoe box with $2,029 cash in an upstairs bedroom
• 1 proof of residency for Rex J. Stengele on the dresser

Here's why the family's 2010 Jeep Wrangler is now the subject of Glasgow's forfeiture complaint:

"Rex J. Stengele claimed ownership of the cannabis located in the basement and advised that he sells cannabis," court records state. He "further stated that he drives his Jeep ... to various locations in Chicago and northern suburbs to purchase large amounts of cannabis. Rex J. Stengele further stated that he has been selling cannabis 'forever.'"

The forfeiture document states that a portion of the suspected cannabis taken during the raid "was confirmed to be cannabis and weighed 33.87 grams."

As it stands, the New Lenox family's 2010 Jeep Wrangler may become property of Illinois law enforcement agencies, if the vehicle is declared a forfeiture drug asset.

However, New Lenox criminal defense attorney Kevin E. Cummings has filed a claim on behalf of Rex C. Stengele, now 79. The New Lenox man bought the Jeep Wrangler in 2017 from Wilmington GMC for $33,000, the lawyer wrote the court.

"Rex C. Stengele, claimant, states that if any act or omission was committed involving the res (sic) described herein, said act or omission was committed without his knowledge or consent," Cummings wrote the court.

A hearing before a Will County judge on the Jeep forfeiture is set for Nov. 14.

In the meantime, the felony manufacturing marijuana charge against the 19-year-old Stengele remains slated for a pretrial hearing on Oct. 26 in Courtroom 402. Cummings is the defense lawyer.

Mugshot of Rex Stengele via Will County Sheriff's Office