Derek A. Ventresca, 28, and Vanessa Zavala, 20, both with a last known address in the 1000 block of Lakehurst Drive in Waukegan, were charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession with intent to deliver after police discovered suspicious items in the apartment, according to Cmdr. Joe Florip of the Waukegan Police Department.
Yesterday, Waukegan police reported they found various chemicals in the apartment as they were working on an eviction case. Police reported the gang unit took two people into custody and were working with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office on charges, according to Florip.
The Gang Intelligence Unit and Illinois State Police were called in to investigate, and soon described finding a ‘drug laboratory” that they described was not a meth lab. State investigators told Waukegan police the lab and chemicals discovered are commonly used to manufacture DMT or dimethyltryptamine, which is classified as a controlled substance (Schedule I).
The state investigators recommended evacuation of the apartment building as a precaution. The evacuation and cleanup lasted about 12 hours, and the evacuation order was lifted at 11:00 p.m.
The case involving the two suspects is now considered a drug laboratory investigation, and the suspects have been charged with multiple drug offenses. Ventresca and Zavala are scheduled to appear in court Friday.
Derek A. Ventresca has been charged with Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Deliver and Obstructing. Derek has a bond of $250k and was remanded into the custody of the Lake County Illinois Jail. Derek will appear in court again on August 26 at 9am. Derek is 28 years old and has a last known address in the 1000 block of Lakehurst Road in Waukegan.
Vanessa Zavala has been charged with Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance and Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Deliver. Vanessa Zavala has a bond on $200K and was remanded into the custody of the Lake County Illinois Jail. Vanessa will appear in court again on August 26 at 9am. Vanessa is 20 years old and has a last known address in the 1000 block of Lakehurst Road in Waukegan.
For more on the incident and DMT (dimethyltryptamine), see …
The Cardinal DMT Hallucinogenic Drug Lab Found During Eviction on Lakehurst Drive, Waukegan
IMPORTANT NOTE: All persons referred to as subjects, suspects, defendants, or offenders are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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