The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Group (SIG), a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) funded task force, concluded an investigation that led to the arrest of a Grayslake man who was illegally manufacturing firearms and machine gun conversion devices, utilizing 3D printers.
Last month, members of SIG conducted an investigation after receiving information that Charles A. Best, 31, of the 200 block of Highland Drive, Grayslake, was illegally manufacturing firearms and machine gun conversion devices. Following the investigation, on May 1, 2024, members of SIG and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Response Team conducted a search warrant at Best’s residence.
SIG detectives seized 64 machine gun conversion devices, three firearms, and three silencers. Additionally, they seized two 3D printers that were utilized in manufacturing firearms and firearm parts. Several 3D printed pistol frames and high-powered rifle parts were seized, along with over 1,000 rounds of ammunition and over 60 grams of cannabis wax.
Following the search warrant, the facts of the case were reviewed with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office. The State’s Attorney’s Office approved the following charges:
Five Counts of Unlawful Possession of a Machine Gun (Class X Felony)
Unlawful Possession of a Firearm Silencer (Class 3 Felony)
Additional charges are likely.
The state’s attorney’s office indicates they will be filing a petition to detain Best in custody during his criminal proceedings.
“This investigation undoubtedly prevented bloodshed in our community. Gun traffickers are a real problem in Lake County and throughout the Chicagoland region. I want to make it clear to anyone trafficking guns or drugs in Lake County: the sheriff’s office and our partners will use all of our resources to find you, arrest you, and hold you accountable for your actions. Our Special Investigations Group is relentless in pursuing and arresting violent offenders operating in Lake County and we are grateful for our partnerships with the ATF – Chicago Field Division as well as all of our other federal and local partners.”
— Sheriff John D. Idleburg
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office acknowledges the exceptional assistance of their federal and local partners, which include: ATF Downers Grove 1, DEA Group 31, FBI NRA-1, HSI TOC-Group, Gurnee PD, Highland Park PD, Park City PD, Round Lake PD, Round Lake Beach PD, Round Lake Park PD, Wauconda PD, Waukegan PD, Winthrop Harbor PD, and Zion PD.
^^ MOBILE? USE VOICE MIC ^^
facebook …
Please ‘LIKE’ the ‘Arlington Cardinal Page. See all of The Cardinal Facebook fan pages at Arlingtoncardinal.com/about/facebook …
Help fund The Cardinal Arlingtoncardinal.com/sponsor
THANKS FOR READING CARDINAL NEWS