Cocaine Trafficking, Gun Possession Among Charges For Northbrook Man

NORTHBROOK, IL — A resident is facing three felony charges following a recent arrest by the Lake County Sheriff's Office. Antonio R. Perez-Amezquita, 36, of the 0-100 block of Cottonwood Road, Northbrook, is accused of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute (super class X felony), armed violence (class X felony) and unlawful possession of a controlled substance (class 1 felony), following a long-term drug trafficking investigation by the department's special investigations group, according to police.

Police concluded an investigation on July 22, which resulted in the arrest. On the prior day, a Lake County Judge authorized a search warrant for a business operated by Perez-Amezquita in the 800 block of Grand Avenue, Ingleside. According to a news release, detectives seized nearly 1,000 grams of cocaine along with a firearm, drug packaging material and over $20,000 of drug money, during the search warrant.

"Our special investigations group continues to aggressively pursue violent offenders and those trafficking drugs in Lake County," Sheriff John D. Idleburg said in a news release. "We have zero tolerance for violence and drug trafficking in our community."

Perez-Amezquita was released July 23 after posting a $50,000 bond. He is due back in court on Thursday.