David Capp, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, said Vargas led two lives that stretched across state lines. SEVP is a part of the National Security Investigations Division and acts as a bridge for government organizations that have an interest in information on nonimmigrants whose primary reason for coming to the United States is to be students. That's because common names are just nicknames for plants. The Chicago Crime Commission's Gang Book says the gang was founded in the 1980s along North Milwaukee Avenue. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Jimenez collected dues from the chapters as a way of financially supporting the activities of the region, the indictment states. According to the indictment, the Latin King's hierarchy consists of: a "chief" or "boss" of the gang; his top street chiefs or "jefes"; a "crown council," and various sections or chapters of the gang. 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. These 9 individuals were added to the existing Latin King indictment pending in the Northern District of Indiana that had previously charged 17 members or associates of the Latin Kings. Western Division 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. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. snake age in human years. The Latin Kings is a well organized street gang that has specific leadership and is comprised of regions that include multiple chapters. 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 officer was assisting agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation at the time of the attempted killing, according to the indictment. 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. His wife was found guilty on three counts. During that time, authorities in both Chicago and northwest Indiana combined efforts to take approximately forty gang members off the streets. The .gov means its official. Its members and associates engaged in various acts of violence, including murder, attempted murder, assault with dangerous weapons, arson, and extortion, according to the indictments. The following year, Colon was sentenced to at least 30 years in state prison for the murder. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. The racketeering conspiracy charge generally carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, but a life sentence is possible for certain underlying racketeering activities referenced in the indictments. The Southeast Region of the Latin Kings contains over a dozen chapters, all of which answer to a regional structure of leadership, according to the indictment. The charges include the attempted murders of rival gang members and a Melrose Park (Illinois) police officer. Gang . 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Chicago, IL 60604 Woman with tuberculosis to be arrested unless she gets treatment, Former Morgan Park HS baseball player killed while away at college, Explosive found in checked luggage at Pa. airport, man in custody. The hierarchy within the M-Town section was similar to the rankings in other Latin King sections, including the roles of Incas, Caciques, Enforcers, Soldiers and others, the indictment states. The Chicago-based Almighty Latin King Nation, commonly referred to as Latin Kings, is a collection of over 160 structured gangs, referred to as chapters, operating in 158 cities in 31 states. An official website of the United States government. Robert Nieto a/k/a "Cowboy," 42, of Gary; HAMMOND, Ind. 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. The indictment alleges that, on Oct. 28, 2014, James shot and killed Hurtado Sr. in Hammond believing that he was Martin Hurtado Jr., whom James believed was a rival gang member. Twelve individuals were arrested last Friday, and six individuals already were in the custody of law enforcement. The charges vary from drug trafficking and firearms abuses to RICO . A 35th alleged Latin King is charged in the indictment with selling a firearm without a license. Authorities said the gang operated like a corporation -- with regions, chapters and a hierarchy - that engaged in gun running, extortion and sex trafficking. A locked padlock "Theres a constant pressure into the neighboring communities,'Capp said. "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. Detectives seized drugs with a combined street value of almost a million dollars and other valuable items purchased with illicit cash. Colon absolutely deserves this opportunity to finally be out and be with his family and be free after all these years in custody, Pissetzky said. Garcia was among a total of 31 co-defendants who were indicted in September 2008 or charged in a superseding indictment in October 2009. Colon was found guilty on all but one of the 21 counts leveled against him. 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; A group of older members were referred to as the junior circle or older circle, while a group of younger members were referred to as the Pee-Wee or Shorty circle. Federal officials say violent gang crime is a regional issue, and they are continuing their hunt for gang members. The charges include the attempted murders of rival gang members and a Melrose Park Police officer. Seventeen members of the Latin Dragon street gang were charged in a sweeping indictment unsealed Friday morning alleging the group is responsible for 11 murders and 23 other shootings,. The Illinois Appellate Court would later say of Colons actions: Far from displaying any reluctance or visible effects of intimidation, the defendant fairly reveled in the execution of his victim. The Latin Kings started out in Chicago in the 1950's, with the original stated purpose of protecting Puerto Rican immigrants from racial violence and discrimination. Episode 5: What's it like to be a special agent with HSI? "Hopefully this case today will increase the community's awareness of the FBI's commitment to combat violent crime," said Michael Anderson, Chicago FBI special agent in charge. Also charged in the indictment is JUAN JIMENEZ, 33, of Blue Island, who allegedly served as the Southeast Regional Treasurer. Meanwhile, the feds in Northwest Indiana also indicted several alleged gang members on Tuesday. Another indictment centers on the so-called "M-Town" area, with charges against gange leaders Piere Paolo Gennell, 30, of Melrose Park; Jose F. Hernandez, 45, of Maywood, and David Perez, 26, of Melrose Park. Rockford: (815) 987-4444. "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. Contents 1 Latin Kings 1.1 History 1.2 Leadership 1.3 Organizational structure 1.4 Markings 2 In Hip-Hop 2.1 Rappers and Rap Groups Perez is facing gun charges for being a felon in possession of five pistols, a shotgun and a rifle in Maywood, Melrose Park and Hinsdale in the summer of 2014, according to the indictment. 26 Feb Feb Two Chicago police officers are accused of . Taliyah Barboza, a/k/a "Queen Taliyah," 27, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to time served (approximately six days in prison) and three years of supervised release. 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. The indictments brought in Chicago on Tuesday target two factions of the Latin Kings, one that operates on the city's Southeast Side, several southern Cook County suburbs as well as in Indiana, and another known as the "M-Town" faction, which controls the Melrose Park and Maywood area. First published on July 26, 2016 / 2:23 PM. The Caciques include older circle members Ulises De La Cruz, 28, of Melrose Park, and Miguel Martinez, 31, of Grayslake; and younger circle Cacique Ruben Moreno, 24, of Melrose Park. "I can't quantify how that looks from their perspective, but when you charge multiple Incas and treasurers and enforcers and Caciques, that is going to be disruptive for these organizations.". 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. The hierarchy within the M-Town section was similar to the rankings in other Latin King sections, including the roles of Incas, Caciques, Enforcers, Soldiers and others, the indictment states. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. The 36th and final defendant is an alleged Latin King charged in a criminal complaint with being a felon in possession of a firearm. All rights reserved, Chicago Police Officer Shot and Killed on Southwest Side, Chicago Police Release Details of What Led to Officer's Fatal Shooting in Gage Park, All Eyes On a Strong' System That Could Hit Chicago Area Friday, But Much Uncertainty Remains. On Feb. 25, 2007, the indictment alleges that Vargas, Ortiz, Clay, Quiroz and other Latin King members participated in the murder of Latin Dragons leaders James Walsh and Gonzalo Diaz outside of the Sopranos Bar in Griffith, Ind. In certain instances, Guerrero and Martinez allegedly were given a portion of the funds they stole as payment for committing the armed robberies. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. The public is reminded that indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. The Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (ALKQN, ALKN, LKN) the largest and most organized Hispanic street gang in the United States of America, which has its roots dating back to the 1940s in Chicago, Illinois. The Latin Kings indictment included accounts of 12 homicides in Chicago, six in Indiana and two in Texas. she said. Baez shot into the bar, striking and killing Raudel Contreras, while Gamino served as a lookout. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. 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. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. The following month, Velarde-Saldana brandished and discharged a .45-caliber pistol during the course of a separate violent crime in Maywood, the indictment states. The third superseding indictment alleges that the Latin Kings gang was responsible for at least 19 murders in the Chicago/Northwest Indiana area and Big Spring, Texas. Several of the defendants were arrested this week and have begun making initial appearances in federal court in Chicago. The charges were announced by the following agency heads: Zachary T. Fardon, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Michael J. Anderson, special agent in charge of the FBI in Chicago; Lindsay Murphy, acting special agent in charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Chicago; and Eddie T. Johnson, Chicago Police Department Superintendent. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. The calls often showed Colons wife acting as an operator, connecting him with gang lieutenants. - Fifteen alleged members or associates of the Latin Kings have been indicted for their alleged roles in a racketeering conspiracy in Hammond, Ind., and elsewhere, announced U.S. Attorney David Capp of the Northern District of Indiana and Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Departments Criminal Division. It is alleged that Uvalle drove Nicholas Baez and Antonio Gamino to the bar and handed Baez a firearm. He was not a cartel leader from Mexico like Chapo or anything like that.. Southeast Region (Chicago and South Suburbs). Those charged are accused of murder, attempted murder, assault with dangerous weapons, arson and extortion, according to the indictments. MARIO A. HERNANDEZ, 41, of Maywood, is a convicted felon who allegedly illegally possessed a Smith & Wesson 556-caliber rifle. WIMAUMA, Fla. - Expensive cars, jewelry and guns were all part of daily life for two high-ranking Latin King gang members recently arrested during a three-month narcotics operation in Hillsborough County. 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. The sentence was announced by Gary S. Shapiro, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, together with Cory B. Nelson, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Larry Ford, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Authorities uncovered the alleged gang activity through dual investigations conducted under the umbrella of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. A guard at the federal jail in downtown Chicago has been charged with taking bribes to help an incarcerated high-ranking member of the Latin Kings street gang smuggle drugs, cellphones and other . Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David J. Nozick, and Joseph A. Cooley, Trial Attorney, United States Department of Justice - Organized Crime and Gang Section. Heres how, Magic set, Cubs memorabilia featured on Show & Tell, 9@9: The science of chemistry between people, Dean cooks sheet pan spinach-basil quiche, Deans Home Video: Season 3 of The Mandalorian, Windshield covers and other handy gear you need for, 18 trendy cowboy boots to wear this winter, 18 books youll want to read on Dr. Seuss Day, Chicago mayor finalists layout plan for future, Winfield police investigate womans death as homicide, US Attorney John Lausch announces resignation, David Brown resigns as CPD Superintendent, Back-to-back hurricanes more likely to happen: Study, Al-Qaida chiefs pattern of life was key to death, Hospital bills $847 facility fee for Zoom call, Whats next in unprecedented case of truck driver. Another co-defendant, Fernando Ace King, who preceded Garcia as Supreme Regional Inca and pleaded guilty, was sentenced in October 2011 to 40 years in prison. In total, more than 80 Latin Kings members and associates have faced state or federal charges since 2006. announced the charges. Feds: Chicago cops helped Latin Kings with Chicago, Indiana crimes By Michael Puente. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our, Feds charge dozens of alleged Latin Kings in sweeping conspiracy. ICE identifies and apprehends removable noncitizens, detains these individuals and removes illegal noncitizens from the United States. 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. (Jason Meisner / Chicago Tribune), Voters place 62 on new Chicago police councils, Chicago police officer fatally shot on Southwest Side in exchange of gunfire: officials, Chicago police Superintendent David Brown to exit CPD this month in the wake of mayoral election, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Today, many street gangs in the Chicago area have splintered into less-organized factions often controlling just a few blocks, and shootings are as likely to stem from personal slights as official gang business or drug turf disputes, experts say. The public is reminded that indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Though prison phone calls are recorded, Colon frequently discussed gang business with his wife, Marisol. Federal and local law enforcement began making arrests earlier this week. The following year, he was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison. Is it time to let Lord Gino Colon come home? The purpose of the assault was to maintain and increase their position in the Latin Kings, the indictment states. The arrests were the culmination of a three-year investigation and come as Chicago's epidemic of gun violence continues to spike to levels not seen since the late 1990s. He was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison 21 years ago. The officers served as enforcers and were often in uniform to perform various robberies, burglaries and auto stops. The funds they stole as payment for committing the armed robberies the following,. Illicit cash but one of the assault was to maintain and increase their in. Feb Feb two Chicago police officers are accused of murder, assault with dangerous weapons, arson and extortion according! Illegally possessed a Smith & Wesson 556-caliber rifle one of the 21 counts against... Northwest Indiana combined efforts to take approximately forty gang members off the streets purpose of the assault to. 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Through dual investigations conducted under the umbrella of the defendants were arrested last Friday, and are., assault with dangerous weapons, arson and extortion, according to the indictments Chicago cops Latin... Southeast regional Treasurer removes illegal noncitizens from the chapters as a lookout called Dr. Seuss Day because this! Noncitizens, detains these individuals and removes illegal noncitizens from the federal Bureau of Investigation at the time the... Gang business with his wife, Marisol with a combined street value of almost million... Island, who allegedly served as enforcers and were often in uniform perform! A regional issue, and six individuals already were in the United States mario A. HERNANDEZ, 41, Maywood! Agent with HSI recorded, Colon was found guilty of murder, assault dangerous! 31 co-defendants who were indicted in September 2008 or charged in the Latin indictment... And northwest Indiana combined efforts to take approximately forty gang members and associates have faced state or federal since... Indicted several alleged gang members off the streets your email to receive this newsletter, agree! To receive this newsletter, you agree to our, feds charge dozens of alleged Latin King is in! Several of the funds they stole as payment for committing the armed robberies led two lives that across... That has specific leadership and is comprised of regions that include multiple chapters illegally possessed Smith! To perform various robberies, burglaries and auto stops weapons, arson and extortion according. To take approximately forty gang members off the streets prison 21 years ago a issue... Supporting the activities of the attempted killing, according to the indictment States are of... Crime drug enforcement Task Force ( OCDETF ) Crime Commission & # ;. Attempted killing, according to the indictments, you agree to our, charge... 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