Highway Patrol Nabs Pharmacy Tech with 2300 Pills in Volo

The Lake County Sheriff's Office arrested a 26-year-old Waukegan pharmacy tech on numerous felony counts after discovering 2,300 prescription pills, a shotgun and $4,700 in her car.

The sheriff's office responded to a complaint of a reckelss driver at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 2, according to a news release.  A Lake County Sheriff deputy located a black Toyota matching the description given by the caller in the parking lot of McDonald’s Restaurant at Route 12 and 120 in Volo.   While approaching the car, the deputy smelled burning cannabis and also observed a baggie containing what later tested to be cannabis in the interior of the vehicle.  The driver, Holland R. Hernandez, 26, of the 1000 Block of Atlantic in Waukegan was taken into custody.

During a search of the vehicle, deputies located over 2,300 prescription pills.  The pills were various controlled substances including Oxycontin, Hydrocodone and Adorol.  In addition to the pills, Hernandez possessed over $4,700 in cash.  In the trunk of the vehicle, deputies located a shotgun, which had ammunition shells attached to the weapon.  

Hernandez was transported to the LCSO Criminal Investigations Division where she admitted to Special Investigation Unit Detectives that she is employed as a pharmacy technician at a local pharmacy.  Hernandez said she sells the medication on the street for $2 a tablet.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was notified and has initiated a federal investigation into the source of the medication. 

Hernandez was charged with Driving While License Suspended, Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle, one Count of Possession of Cannabis, six Counts Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance (Class 4) and six Counts of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Class 1).

Hernandez appeared in bond court on Aug. 3.  Her bond was set at $50,000.