The government was represented by Assistant U.S. CHICAGO Two federal indictments unsealed in Chicago Tuesday charged 34 members of the Latin Kings street gang with participating in a criminal organization that assaults and attempts to murder its rivals and violently protects its territories in the city and suburbs. Rockford: (815) 987-4444. According to the indictments filed in this case, Latin Kings is a nationwide gang that originated in Chicago and has branched out throughout the United States. The U.S. Attorneys Office argues that Colon is serving a sentence that is within the advisory guidelines range and fully justified given his role as leader of the Latin Kings. Prosecutors have also focused heavily on Colons murder conviction in state court, a tactic that Pissetzky called a red herring., Its just unconscionable, I think, to keep somebody in prison for a drug offense for that long of a time, Pissetzky said. CHICAGO Two federal indictments unsealed in Chicago Tuesday charged 34 members of the Latin Kings street gang with participating in a criminal organization that assaults and attempts to murder its rivals and violently protects its territories in the city and suburbs. "You will see that it's a regional problem.". The M-Town section was divided into two groups, known as circles, the indictment states. Among the Chicago chapters included in the Southeast Region were 82nd Street, 88th and 89th Streets, 97th Street, 99th Street, 102nd Street, 104th Street, and the Roseland neighborhood. 26 Feb Feb CHICAGO Two federal indictments unsealed in Chicago today charged 34 members of the Latin Kings street gang with participating in a criminal organization that assaults and attempts to murder its rivals and violently protects its territories in the city and suburbs. Named in Tuesday's indictment are: Jeremiah Shane Farmer, 35, of Hammond,. This sentence holds Garcia accountable for the barbaric enterprise known as the Latin Kings and his role in murder, attempted murder, shootings, beatings, drug trafficking, and other crimes, said Gary S. Shapiro, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Attorneys Jennie Levin, Matthew Hernandez and Morris Pasqual, Northern District of Illinois, are representing the government in the Gennell, et al, case. Another top ranking Latin Kings member, Alexander Vargas, has already pled guilty to racketeering, drug conspiracy and murder charges. Other regional chapters operated in the south suburbs of Blue Island, Dolton, Harvey and Chicago Heights, as well as in Kankakee and communities across the border in Indiana, according to the indictment. The indictments allege that members of the Latin Kings violently enforced discipline within its ranks and retaliated against rivals and former members to prevent cooperation with law enforcement. For media inquiries about this release, call (312) 446-7872. Operation Checkmate resulted in the arrest of 21 people, including two top gang leaders. The indictments pertain to alleged Latin King activities in two Chicagoland areas the southeast side of Chicago, including the south suburbs, and the western suburbs of Maywood and Melrose Park, Illinois. CHICAGO - Twenty-six alleged members and associates of the Latin Kings street gang are facing federal narcotics charges, most of them for their alleged roles in one of two drug-trafficking organizations that supplied and distributed multi-kilogram quantities of heroin, cocaine and marijuana in Chicago and the south suburbs. Authorities uncovered the alleged gang activity through dual investigations conducted under the umbrella of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). "Once we made all these arrests and got these individuals off the street, the homicide rate -- for instance up in East Chicago -- dropped down to like one or two,'Capp said. CHICAGOA Chicago man alleged to be a "Corona" of the Latin Kings, making him the highest-ranking leader outside of prison and responsible for overseeing the illegal activities of all. Jose Guzman, a former Nation Enforcer in the 26th Street, or Little Village, faction, was sentenced to 35 years in prison, and Alphonso Chavez, the Inca, or leader of the gangs 31st and Drake faction, was sentenced to 30 years in prison. U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois, Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee (LECC), Thirty Four Alleged Gang Members Charged with Participating in Racketeering Conspiracy Involving Guns, Assaults and Attempted Murders in Chicago and Suburbs, Federal Inmate Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Prison for Assaulting Federal Correctional Officer, Chicago Man Sentenced to Eight Years for Setting Fire to Cell Phone Store, Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing Gun and Drugs in Chicago Suburb, Thirty Four Alleged Gang Members Charged With Participating In Racketeering Conspiracy Involving Guns, Assaults and Attempted Murders In Chicago and Suburbs. The indictments unsealed Tuesday show the Latin Kings have managed to maintain their organizational structure despite a series of major investigations by law enforcement over the years that dealt heavy blows to the gang's leadership. In certain instances, Guerrero and Martinez allegedly were given a portion of the funds they stole as payment for committing the armed robberies. Eddie Johnson speaks about two federal indictments charging 34 members of the Latin Kings street gang with participating in a criminal organization during a press conference at the Dirksen Federal Building, Tuesday afternoon, July 26, 2016. A chapter soldier, Roy Vega, 33, of Chicago, is charged with brandishing and discharging a firearm during a violent assault on July 5, 2014, in Chicago. The investigation of the Chicago Police Department officers was conducted by Chicago City Public Corruption Task Force, a Chicago Police Department- Internal Affairs and FBI - Chicago law enforcement initiative. Attorneys Brian Wallach, Derek Owens and Vikas Didwania, Northern District of Illinois, are representing the government in the Cavillo, et al, case. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS The previous Latin King indictment had charged Joseph Uvalle with sex trafficking offenses, and this . EDGAR VELARDE-SALDANA, 33, of Maywood, a soldier in the younger circle of the M-Town section, is charged in the indictment with attempting to murder a Melrose Park police officer on July 6, 2014. tenths to inches converter; jake muzzin family; body sculpting classes hawaii; coleman stove flexible regulator; who owns whatfinger news; howard miller clocks made in usa; terraform concat string and variable; Its that simple." CHICAGOA Chicago man alleged to be a "Corona" of the Latin Kings, making him the highest-ranking leader outside of prison and responsible for overseeing the illegal activities of all factions of the powerful Chicago street gang, is among 18 defendants charged in a sweeping new federal indictment against the gang's alleged hierarchy. The investigations were conducted under the umbrella of the OCDETF program, a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The public is reminded that an Indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court. Darrick Vallodolid, 27, of Hobart; Paul Vasquez is charged with attempting to transfer a loaded Tec-DC9 semi-automatic pistol to other Latin King members on Oct. 25, 2015, in Chicago, according to the indictment. The 66-year-old Colon, Pissetzky said, has high blood pressure, hypertension and prediabetes. According to this indictment, Clay, Fernandez, Arambula, and others participated in the conspiracy to murder of Edward Delatorre and another individual on Nov. 26, 2006. Named in today's two-count superseding indictment are: This fifth superseding indictment alleges a conspiracy to commit . For media inquiries about ICE activities, operations, or policies, contact the ICE Office of Public Affairs at (202) 732-4242. The purpose of the assault was to maintain and increase their position in the Latin Kings, the indictment states. Raymond Vasquez and three Soldiers of the chapter are charged in the indictment with using a dangerous weapon to assault an individual on Dec. 2, 2012, in south suburban Burnham. The purpose of the assault was to maintain and increase their position in the Latin Kings, the indictment states. The specific sentence in each case to be imposed upon conviction will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. "But I'm not naive to think that this was going to put an end to it.". 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Nancy DePodesta, a former federal prosecutor who led the case against Zambrano, said in an interview Tuesday that it was "disheartening" to see so many of the same allegations in the new charges. With a body mass index of 33, Colon is also considered obese. The soldiers are identified in the indictment as Fernando Chavez, 31, of Lansing, Illinois; Israel Mata, 33, most recently in state custody in Indiana on firearm charges; and Edgar Gonzalez, 32, of Whiting, Indiana. A 35th alleged Latin Kings member is charged with selling a firearm without a license. Gang leaders also issued "standing orders to shoot and beat" rivals and even attack Latin Kings who had fallen from good standing for one reason or another, according to the charges. As of Tuesday afternoon, 33 out of the 36 defendants charged in the Chicago cases were in custody and will be making their initial court appearances in the coming days, according to U.S. attorney's office spokesman Joseph Fitzpatrick. Edgar Velarde-Saldana, 33, of Maywood, a soldier in the younger circle of the M-Town section, is charged in the indictment with attempting to murder a Melrose Park police officer on July 6, 2014. Among the allegations levied in the indictments were that a soldier in the M-Town faction, Edgar Velarde-Saldana, 33, tried to murder a Melrose Park police officer in July 2014, after it was learned the officer was assisting FBI agents. In announcing sweeping federal indictments against some of the street gang's top regional leaders Tuesday, prosecutors alleged the gang employs brutal means to protect its turf, including beatings, murder, arson and even the attempted murder of a suburban cop who was suspected of working for the FBI. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Peter Salinas a/k/a "Pudge," 30, of Hammond. Two other co-defendants convicted at the same trial also received substantial prison terms. "We are grateful to the FBI and other law enforcement agencies for their hard work in conducting this investigation and making these arrests and we are pleased to have been able to lend Melrose Park Police officers to assist," said Melrose Park Mayor Ron Serpico. According to this indictment, the Latin Kings is nationwide gang that originated in Chicago and has branched out throughout the United States, including to Texas. Paulino Salazar and David Lira are considered fugitives. The indictments unsealed Tuesday in Chicago charged 34 alleged members of the Latin Kings with racketeering conspiracy, including several "regional enforcers" responsible for keeping gang members in line, as well as high-ranking members known as "Incas," who oversee members, and their seconds in command, called "Caciques." The officials recognized the substantial investigative assistance of the Melrose Park Police Department, Maywood Police Department, Cook County Sheriff's Police Department, Joliet Police Department, Evergreen Park Police Department, Bolingbrook Police Department, Orland Park Police Department, Palos Park Police Department, Hammond (Ind.) Two Chicago police officers are accused of . The new defendants are Zambrano, Fernando King, 39, of Chicago, alleged to be the gang's "Supreme Regional Officer" who reported only to Zambrano, and Ruben Caquias, Ernesto Grimaldo, Nedal Issa and Felipe Zamora. PROVIDENCE - A federal judge on Wednesday agreed to release a former Almighty Latin King Nation gang member convicted in a deadly carjacking almost three . 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