Teen In Neo-Nazi Gear Who Faces Gun Charges Is Free On Bail

LAKE COUNTY, IL – A judge on Thursday expanded upon bail conditions for a Vernon Hills teen accused of possessing weapons without a valid FOID card, the Daily Herald reports. Jakub Zak, 19, is free on a $150 cash bail following his April arrest after local police assisted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in searching Zak's parent's home and seizing three fully built rifles, two handguns, ammunition and several gun parts. Prosecutors on Thursday requested a Lake County judge add a condition to Zak's bail after the teen made statements in a Domino's Pizza in Mundelein regarding the fact that he still had gun parts and could build more weapons, according to the Daily Herald.

During the Thursday arraignment, Judge John J. Scully ordered Zak turn over any gun parts he might still have and also ordered him to stay away from the Dominio's in Mundelein where he made the comments about building more guns, according to the Daily Herald. Also during the hearing on Thursday, Zak pleaded not guilty to charges of possessing firearms, ammunition, and parts to make more guns without a valid Illinois FOID card.

Authorities have said the ATF acted on an anonymous tip after Jakub Zak was spotted wearing gear promoting a Texas-based white supremacist, Neo-Nazi group. According to the tip, Zak was spotted on the College of Lake County campus promoting the racist, anti-Semitic Patriot Front, a "far right splinter group born from the fallout over Charlottesville," according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. The tip also noted that Zak was in possession of firearms and ammunition, according to Vernon Hills police.

On April 12, Vernon Hills investigators assisted a College of Lake County Police Officer and ATF agents at Zak's home. Police said the 19-year-old and his father were home at the time of the search.

Five semi-automatic guns were found in the home, according to the Chicago Tribune. Police said no one in the home possessed a valid FOID card.

Zak agreed to relinquishing the weapons and ammunition to police. Police said the recovered weapons have been sent to the state crime lab for analysis and investigators do not believe they were used in any crime other than the FOID violations.

Image via Vernon Hills Police Department

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