The Latest Breaking News from Matthew Kennelly

Top DHS Lawyer's Judge-Shaming Campaign Lands Him Before the Florida Bar

DHS's top lawyer ranked federal judges online; 128 retired jurists filed a Florida Bar complaint. Here's what's confirmed, disputed, and next.

Latin Times · Aug 23

TPS Lawyers Pivot to a Bolder Claim: Homeland Security Never Had the Power to Cancel It

Lawyers for TPS holders argue DHS never had legal authority to end the program, testing a 2002 law in courts from Chicago to Boston.

Latin Times · Aug 6

A federal judge temporarily blocks parts of Trump's anti-DEI executive orders

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the U.S. Department of Labor from implementing parts of President Donald Trump’s executive orders aimed at curbing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts among federal contractors and grant recipients

The Independent UK · Mar 28, 2025

Wife of cartel boss who snitched on El Chapo is jailed for hiding $2.3m of drug money

Prosecutors say money was used for luxury vacations, shopping sprees, private schools fees and to attend a J-Lo concert

The Independent UK · Sep 27, 2023

Another ‘cartel wife’ gets 3.5 years for hiding millions in drug money tied to El Chapo’s Sinaloa cartel

The feds pointed out the $2.3 million Valerie Gaytan stashed was generated “through the sale of thousands of kilograms of drugs in the United States ... that harmed individuals and communities in countless ways.”

Chicago Sun-Times · Sep 25, 2023

‘Don’t screw up,’ judge warns sister-in-law of Flores twins who turned on El Chapo, giving her probation

“Here’s the deal, this is like you just won the World Series,” U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly warned Bianca Finnigan, 34. “You won’t get a second break.”

Chicago Sun-Times · Aug 25, 2023

Federal judge gives probation sentence to Chicago woman who ran fetish business

When Jessica Nesbitt was first charged in summer 2019, her attorneys insisted her business was legal and that she paid her taxes. “Fetish-based eroticism is not unlawful,” defense attorney Barry Sheppard said.

Chicago Sun-Times · Jul 18, 2023

‘Cartel wife’ of Chicago cocaine kingpin gets 3 1/2 years for hiding hundreds of thousands of dollars from feds

Vivianna Lopez made an emotional plea for mercy, telling the judge she feared for the lives of her children after Pedro Flores and his brother, Margarito, famously turned against the Sinaloa cartel and helped bring down Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman Loera.

Chicago Sun-Times · Jul 17, 2023

Heather Mack pleads guilty in Chicago murder conspiracy case stemming from mother’s 2014 slaying in Bali

CHICAGO — Heather Mack has already spent nearly every day behind bars since her mother’s bludgeoned body was found stuffed in a suitcase in the Bali resort where they’d been vacationing nine years ago, sparking international headlines and leading police on a trail that began in suburban Chicago.

Chicago Tribune · Jun 16, 2023

Heather Mack could plead guilty to role in mom’s murder later this month

A guilty plea from Mack would scuttle her summer trial and lead to a sentencing hearing. Prosecutors have said Mack covered her mother’s mouth with her hand during the killing.

Chicago Sun-Times · Jun 1, 2023