SWAT team arrests two Lake County residents after DEA investigation reveals drugs were sent to Round Lake

A SWAT team arrested two Lake County residents after federal authorities discovered drugs were being sent to Round Lake, and investigators seized a significant amount of narcotics.

Nicholas Shepherd, assistant prosecutor for Lake County, said the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) received information in April about a suspicious package sent from Arizona to Wisconsin.

The DEA learned of two more suspicious packages sent to Round Lake and Wisconsin.

The Lake County Metropolitan Enforcement Group (LCMEG) was notified of the property in Round Lake where a residential building was proposed in the 800 block of North Cedar Lake Road.

The home was under surveillance and a male subject was observed picking up the package when it was delivered, Shepherd said.

The man left the house and visited several locations in western Lake County.

Investigators identified the man as Akeem S. Shofidiya, 39, of Lake Villa, who has a long criminal history involving gun and drug trafficking. He is also a documented gang member, Shepherd said.

Last month, the DEA learned of another suspicious package from Arizona destined for the same Round Lake residence.

LCMEG intercepted the package at a shipping facility in Illinois and a dog indicated the presence of drugs in the package, Shepherd said.

A search warrant was obtained and LCMEG searched the box and found 436 grams of pills that tested positive for fentanyl.

Shepherd said the package was repackaged and delivered to the Round Lake residence.

Shofidiya was seen bringing the package into the house after it was delivered, Shepherd said.

Two minutes later, LCMEG, with assistance from the Illinois State Police SWAT team, executed a search warrant on the residence.

The special forces surrounded the house and ordered the residents to leave.

Shofidiya left the house within a minute and was arrested, Shepherd said. A woman named Mykal P. Wade, 35, of Round Lake, was apparently inside the house.

Shepherd said Wade refused to leave the house for over 10 minutes, at which point officers entered the home.

Officers learned that Wade had attempted to flush the fentanyl pills down a toilet, but it was clogged, Shepherd said.

Officers discovered a significant amount of other narcotics in the house, including 887 grams of cannabis, 500 grams of fentanyl powder, 132 grams of cocaine, 25 grams of ecstasy pills and 16 grams of methamphetamine. A ghost gun and cash were also seized.

There was a small child living in the house who was taken into care by DCFS.

Wade and Shofidiya were both charged with manufacture or delivery of 100-400 grams of cocaine, manufacture of 15-200 ecstasy pills, delivery of 15-100 grams of methamphetamine, manufacture or delivery of more than 900 grams of cocaine, possession of 100-400 grams of cocaine, possession of 15-200 ecstasy pills, possession of 15-100 grams of methamphetamine, possession of more than 200 grams of a controlled substance, manufacture or delivery of 500-2,000 grams of cannabis, obstruction of justice, destruction of evidence and endangering a child.

The Lake County District Attorney’s Office filed a motion to remand both defendants in custody.

The judges granted both requests in separate detention hearings.