Lake County, IL – A North Chicago man has been sentenced to federal prison following a major fentanyl distribution investigation led by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Group, officials announced this week.
According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Alfred E. Rollins, 47, pleaded guilty on December 16, 2025, to federal charges involving the distribution of fentanyl. The case stemmed from a 2024 undercover operation conducted by the Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Group (SIG), working alongside the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Chicago Field Division.
Investigators said SIG detectives received information that Rollins was allegedly selling heroin laced with fentanyl in Lake County. Detectives then conducted multiple undercover purchases, buying more than 115 grams of a powder substance containing fentanyl and nearly 2,000 fentanyl pills.
Following the undercover transactions, Rollins was arrested by SIG detectives in North Chicago. At the time of his arrest, authorities said he was found in possession of more than 65 baggies of cannabis packaged for distribution. A subsequent search of his residence allegedly uncovered more than two pounds of cannabis.
A federal arrest warrant was later issued, and Rollins was taken into federal custody in June 2025. He was ultimately sentenced to five years in federal prison for distributing more than 40 grams of fentanyl. Officials confirmed he remains in federal custody.
Sheriff John D. Idleburg said the case highlights the ongoing danger fentanyl poses to Lake County communities. “Every arrest of a drug trafficker reduces the threat to our residents,” Idleburg said, crediting close partnerships between local and federal law enforcement agencies.
ATF officials echoed those concerns, emphasizing fentanyl’s role in overdose deaths and the importance of continued collaboration to disrupt drug trafficking networks across northern Illinois.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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