5 facing felony charges following federal investigation into fentanyl sales in Chicago
Three Chicago residents 33-year-old Jared Daniels, 34-year-old Cristine Serrano and 35-year-old Shernell Anderson, as well as 43-year-old Larry Lemon, a Brookfield resident, have each been charged with drug conspiracy and distribution.
Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines
Additionally, 33-year-old Jonathan Collins, a Chicago resident, has been charged with federal firearm offenses, alongside Daniels and Serrano, the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Northern District of Illinois announced Friday morning.
Daniels, Serrano, Anderson and Lemon are accused of conspiring to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine and heroin in the city in 2023 and 2024, according to an indictment unsealed in federal court in Chicago this week.
The firearms charges against Collins, Daniels and Serrano were handed down after they were allegedly found to be illegally possessing firearms, including handguns equipped with a switch device, which makes the weapons capable of firing multiple rounds with a single pull of the trigger, prosecutors said.
All five suspects are currently in custody.
LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland
If convicted, Daniels, Serrano, Anderson, and Lemon could face a maximum sentence of life in federal prison, as well as mandatory minimums ranging from ten to 15 years. Collins could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
The investigation into the case was conducted as part of Operation Take Back America, a DOJ-led nationwide initiative launched in March to intensify prosecution against illegal immigration, cartels, human trafficking, and violent crime.
Authorities did not provide booking photos for anyone charged.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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CNN
2 hours ago
- CNN
Law used to kick out Nazis could be used to strip citizenship from many more Americans
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People who have committed violent crimes, are members or associates of gangs and drug cartels or have committed fraud should also be prioritized, the memo, issued by the head of the DOJ's Civil Division, said. But for many officials and experts, the real concern, they say, is that it is designed to strike fear in the hearts of legal immigrants across the country – particularly those who are at odds with Trump himself. 'The politicization of citizenship rights is something that really worries me, I think it's just flatly inconsistent with our democratic system,' Cassandra Burke Robertson, a law professor at Case Western Reserve University, told CNN. The statute in question is part of a McCarthy-era law first established to root out Communists during the red scare. But its most common use over the years has been against war criminals. In 1979, the Justice Department established a unit that used the statute to deport hundreds of people who assisted the Nazis. Eli Rosenbaum, the man who led it for years, helped the department strip citizenship from or deport 100 people, and earned a reputation as the DOJ's most prolific Nazi hunter. Rosenbaum briefly returned in 2022 to lead an effort to identify and prosecute anyone who committed war crimes in Ukraine. But the department has broadened those efforts beyond Nazis several times, including an Obama-era initiative called Operation Janus targeting those who stole identities to earn citizenship. In 2020, Trump attempted to expand denaturalization efforts by creating a dedicated office at the Justice Department, but it was quietly disbanded by the Biden administration the following year. One former DOJ official called the office a 'branding opportunity,' noting that it was not particularly effective and did not fit with Trump's successor's priorities. Since returning to the White House, Trump has worked to redesign how the federal government enforces immigration in the country, pushing agencies like the FBI and US Marshals to join deportation efforts and targeting foreign student visas for people abroad hoping to attend a private university in the states. Instead of reinstating the stand-alone office from his first administration, the entire Civil Division is now being told to prioritize denaturalization 'in all cases permitted by law,' according to the memo, which also suggests that US attorneys' offices across the country should flag cases where they may be able to initiate denaturalization proceedings. Trump filed 102 denaturalization cases during his first administration, contrasted with the 24 cases filed under Biden, DOJ Spokesperson Chad Gilmartin said on social media Wednesday. So far, the second Trump administration has filed 5 cases in its first five months. The DOJ told CNN in a statement: 'Denaturalization proceedings will only be pursued as permitted by law and supported by evidence against individuals who illegally procured or misrepresented facts in the naturalization process.' But current and former DOJ officials who spoke to CNN said that the beyond instructing lawyers to file as many denaturalization cases as possible, the memo is so broad that it could allow the Justice Department to invoke vague or unsubstantiated claims to expel people from the country. Robertson, of Case Western, warned that the memo could give way to the Trump administration retroactively searching for missteps in the naturalization process of perceived political opponents, like student activists. Irina Manta, a law professor at Hofstra University, said that the administration's move could have a 'chilling effect' on free speech, both political and otherwise. 'I regularly observe the fear firsthand,' she said. Trump has publicly flirted with the notion of deporting American citizens he doesn't want in the country. Though the seriousness of these statements is highly unclear, he has called for everything from deporting 'bad people … many of them [who] were born in our country' to saying his administration should 'take a look' at removing Elon Musk after his erstwhile ally criticized the president's spending bill. At least one ally has taken a more formal step. Last week, Andy Ogles, a Republican congressman, asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate whether New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani—who was born in Uganda and naturalized in 2018— should be subject to denaturalization proceedings because he 'publicly glorifies' people connected to Hamas in a rap song. Bondi has not publicly responded to the letter.
CNN
2 hours ago
- CNN
Law used to kick out Nazis could be used to strip citizenship from many more Americans
For decades, the US Department of Justice has used a tool to sniff out former Nazis who lied their way into becoming American citizens: a law that allowed the department to denaturalize, or strip, citizenship from criminals who falsified their records or hid their illicit pasts. That power, under the new Trump administration, may be broadening. According to a memo issued by the Justice Department last month, attorneys should aim their denaturalization work to target a much broader swath of individuals – anyone who may 'pose a potential danger to national security.' The directive appears to be a push towards a larger denaturalization effort that fits with the Trump administration's hardline immigration policies. These could leave some of the millions of naturalized American citizens at risk of losing their status and being deported. People who have committed violent crimes, are members or associates of gangs and drug cartels or have committed fraud should also be prioritized, the memo, issued by the head of the DOJ's Civil Division, said. But for many officials and experts, the real concern, they say, is that it is designed to strike fear in the hearts of legal immigrants across the country – particularly those who are at odds with Trump himself. 'The politicization of citizenship rights is something that really worries me, I think it's just flatly inconsistent with our democratic system,' Cassandra Burke Robertson, a law professor at Case Western Reserve University, told CNN. The statute in question is part of a McCarthy-era law first established to root out Communists during the red scare. But its most common use over the years has been against war criminals. In 1979, the Justice Department established a unit that used the statute to deport hundreds of people who assisted the Nazis. Eli Rosenbaum, the man who led it for years, helped the department strip citizenship from or deport 100 people, and earned a reputation as the DOJ's most prolific Nazi hunter. Rosenbaum briefly returned in 2022 to lead an effort to identify and prosecute anyone who committed war crimes in Ukraine. But the department has broadened those efforts beyond Nazis several times, including an Obama-era initiative called Operation Janus targeting those who stole identities to earn citizenship. In 2020, Trump attempted to expand denaturalization efforts by creating a dedicated office at the Justice Department, but it was quietly disbanded by the Biden administration the following year. One former DOJ official called the office a 'branding opportunity,' noting that it was not particularly effective and did not fit with Trump's successor's priorities. Since returning to the White House, Trump has worked to redesign how the federal government enforces immigration in the country, pushing agencies like the FBI and US Marshals to join deportation efforts and targeting foreign student visas for people abroad hoping to attend a private university in the states. Instead of reinstating the stand-alone office from his first administration, the entire Civil Division is now being told to prioritize denaturalization 'in all cases permitted by law,' according to the memo, which also suggests that US attorneys' offices across the country should flag cases where they may be able to initiate denaturalization proceedings. Trump filed 102 denaturalization cases during his first administration, contrasted with the 24 cases filed under Biden, DOJ Spokesperson Chad Gilmartin said on social media Wednesday. So far, the second Trump administration has filed 5 cases in its first five months. The DOJ told CNN in a statement: 'Denaturalization proceedings will only be pursued as permitted by law and supported by evidence against individuals who illegally procured or misrepresented facts in the naturalization process.' But current and former DOJ officials who spoke to CNN said that the beyond instructing lawyers to file as many denaturalization cases as possible, the memo is so broad that it could allow the Justice Department to invoke vague or unsubstantiated claims to expel people from the country. Robertson, of Case Western, warned that the memo could give way to the Trump administration retroactively searching for missteps in the naturalization process of perceived political opponents, like student activists. Irina Manta, a law professor at Hofstra University, said that the administration's move could have a 'chilling effect' on free speech, both political and otherwise. 'I regularly observe the fear firsthand,' she said. Trump has publicly flirted with the notion of deporting American citizens he doesn't want in the country. Though the seriousness of these statements is highly unclear, he has called for everything from deporting 'bad people … many of them [who] were born in our country' to saying his administration should 'take a look' at removing Elon Musk after his erstwhile ally criticized the president's spending bill. At least one ally has taken a more formal step. Last week, Andy Ogles, a Republican congressman, asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate whether New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani—who was born in Uganda and naturalized in 2018— should be subject to denaturalization proceedings because he 'publicly glorifies' people connected to Hamas in a rap song. Bondi has not publicly responded to the letter.
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Bob Vylan's Career Has Been Destroyed by Glastonbury Performance: Experts
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Bob Vylan's career may be in trouble following their controversial performance at Glastonbury, experts tell Newsweek. Over the weekend, the English punk rap duo sparked outrage at the music festival in the United Kingdom. During their set, they led crowds in a chant of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the Israeli Defense Forces. On October 7, 2023, Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and abducting 251 hostages. In response, Israel launched a military operation that has killed more than 56,400 people in Gaza, per the Associated Press. On Saturday, the Avon and Somerset Police said on X, formerly Twitter, that they were looking into "whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation." In a separate post shared to the social media platform on Monday, authorities confirmed "a criminal investigation is now being undertaken." Bob Vylan will likely have a difficult time recovering from their Glastonbury performance, experts tell Newsweek. Bob Vylan will likely have a difficult time recovering from their Glastonbury performance, experts tell Newsweek. Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty/Canva The BBC, which broadcast the music festival, issued an apology: "We deeply regret that such offensive and deplorable behavior appeared on the BBC and want to apologize to our viewers and listeners and in particular the Jewish community. We are also unequivocal that there can be no place for antisemitism at, or on, the BBC." Bob Vylan—who uses the stage names Bobby Vylan and Bobbie Vylan—responded to backlash on Instagram on Tuesday. "We are not for the death of Jews, Arabs or any other race or group of people. We are for the dismantling of a violent military machine," they wrote. "We, like those in the spotlight before us, are not the story. We are a distraction from the story. And whatever sanctions we receive will be a distraction." Bob Vylan Suffers Consequences Earlier this week, the U.S. State Department revoked Bob Vylan's visas to the United States. "The @StateDept has revoked the US visas for the members of the Bob Vylan band in light of their hateful tirade at Glastonbury, including leading the crowd in death chants," Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau wrote on X on Monday. "Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country." The duo was also dropped by their agent UTA, Deadline reported. Will Bob Vylan's Career Recover? Lauren Beeching, founder of crisis PR firm Honest London, told Newsweek it's "looking increasingly unlikely" that Bob Vylan's career will recover from Glastonbury. "The chant wasn't subtle or up for interpretation. 'Death to the IDF' was broadcast live by the BBC, and the response has been fast and serious," Beeching said. "They've lost their U.S. visas, were dropped by their American booking agency UTA, and the BBC pulled the footage while issuing public apologies. Ofcom has confirmed it is investigating, and there's a criminal inquiry underway. This is not a controversy you ride out with a break from social media." Eric Schiffer, CEO of Reputation Management Consultants, added: "Bob Vylan saw America's 40-city ATM blow into bits with one 'death to IDF' chant that turned a seven-figure tour into a cesspool of self destruction. UTA's kiss-off and a federal visa shred turned Bob Vylan from buzz band to biohazard. U.S. bookers now treat their name like smallpox on a set list. UTA ditching them is the real body-blow because agents equal oxygen." Bob Vylan was scheduled to open for singer Grandson's tour this fall. "When the State Department slaps a no-fly list on your Fender guitars, the merch table moves from Madison Square to Minsk and your rider drops from Dom Pérignon to bring your own," Schiffer continued. "Agents dump you, visas vanish, cops investigate—welcome to the triple-crown of attempted career suicide. The Glastonbury spot is now radioactive nostalgia—future lineups will treat their clip like a deathtrap warning reel." Bobby Vylan, of Bob Vylan, performs on the West Holts stage during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm, Pilton on June 28, 2025 in Glastonbury, England. Bobby Vylan, of Bob Vylan, performs on the West Holts stage during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm, Pilton on June 28, 2025 in Glastonbury, Coleman, a crisis communication consultant and director of Amanda Coleman Communication Ltd, argued, however, that "the future of Bob Vylan is in the hands of their audience and whether they are prepared to continue to follow them despite this furor. "Even if the artist is prevented from traveling, they can continue to grow an audience online," Coleman explained. "During the COVID-19 pandemic, artists proved you could use social media and technology to stream and continue to grow an audience. If the social media companies cut them off, there will always be alternative channels to move onto." She added that "Bob Vylan have had more coverage since the Glastonbury Festival appearance, and many more people will know who they are." "I don't believe that all publicity is good publicity," Coleman said. "Their behavior has caused significant damage to them and has outraged many, but whether this is a fatal blow to their future is in the hands of their fans and followers." Bob Vylan's Net Worth Takes Big Hit Bob Vylan's net worth will most certainly be impacted after their Glastonbury set, Beeching tells Newsweek. "Touring is usually the main source of income for independent artists, and they were due to open for American singer Grandson's U.S. tour in October and November. That's now off the table following their visa revocation. The cancellation means lost fees, scrapped merch sales, and the breakdown of future international revenue," she shared. "Being dropped by UTA also ends access to global booking networks, corporate stages, and brand tie-ins. Even if those opportunities weren't fully developed yet, they were within reach. Now, anyone looking to work with them commercially would have to factor in reputational risk and likely backlash. That alone shrinks their options." Beeching said it was important to note that "being dropped by a booking agent like UTA is different from being dropped by a label." "Bob Vylan are independent and release music themselves. So while they don't have a label to sever ties with, losing agency support cuts off live revenue opportunities, tour planning, and international expansion," she explained. "You don't need a label to build a career anymore, but you do need access, and that's what's just been taken away." Beeching made it clear, however, that despite criticism, they will also "likely gain fans from this, especially those who view the backlash as censorship or hypocrisy." "They haven't been erased, but they have been repositioned." While Bob Vylan may also still earn money "through streaming, direct fan support and U.K. performances," the "ceiling has lowered." "From a PR and commercial strategy perspective, this shifts them from being a politically provocative act with growth potential to one the industry will now avoid. That doesn't mean financial collapse, but it does mean their future is far more limited than it was two weeks ago."
