Guilty Sentence For Plainfield Man Found Hiding Heroin: Glasgow

PLAINFIELD, IL — A Plainfield man was found guilty Tuesday for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, almost a decade after investigators found heroin stashed in a hidden room in his house, State's Attorney James Glasgow announced.

A jury found Lamond Ballard, 52, guilty of the Class X felony, the most severe of criminal offenses. His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 9.

The case stems back to Oct. 30, 2015, when the Drug Enforcement Administration executed a search warrant at Ballard's residence on Partridge Drive in Plainfield. In a hidden room, whose door was concealed behind a wall decoration, investigators found about 2 kilograms of heroin and about $138,000 of cash. In the main bedroom, they located a 9mm handgun with a magazine containing 15 live rounds, according to a news release.

The DEA also found multiple scales, packaging materials and a smaller safe that looked like a book at the house. At the time, The street value of the drug was $200,000, officials said.

The possession of a controlled substance charge carries a mandatory minimum of 15 years and maximum of 60 years in prison at the Illinois Department of Corrections. Ballard will be required to serve 75 percent of the imposed sentence.