The indictment includes the previous charges alleging that the 12 remaining . Another two alleged members were charged with lesser weapons charges. "But I'm not naive to think that this was going to put an end to it.". Authorities uncovered the alleged gang activity through dual investigations conducted under the umbrella of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). One indictment charges three of the Latin Kings' alleged "regional enforcers" on the Southeast Side: Raul Cavillo, 33; Joel Nunez, 39; and Carlos Padilla Jr., 35, all of Chicago. Lock Other regional chapters operated in the south suburbs of Blue Island, Dolton, Harvey and Chicago Heights, as well as in Kankakee, Illinois and communities across the border in Indiana, according to the indictment. Thirty four alleged Latin Kings are charged with racketeering conspiracy. 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. All 12 individuals were charged with a conspiracy to distribute narcotics and added to a Latin King indictment pending in Indiana that had previously charged 26 members of the gang, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's office. (Jason Meisner / Chicago Tribune) (Chicago Tribune). Founded in Chicago in the 1950s, the Latin Kings in many ways are a throwback to an era when gangs were led by unchallenged leaders who ruled over large swaths of territory, controlling criminal enterprises and driving violence. A weekly compilation of engaging digital content. Also charged in the indictment is Juan Jimenez, 33, of Blue Island, Illinois, who allegedly served as the Southeast Regional Treasurer. Delgado also faces a drug-related charge for allegedly distributing cocaine in the city in April 2014. The indictment charges three alleged high-ranking Latin Kings who enforced discipline and adherence to the gangs rules and were known as Regional Enforcers. The three Southeast Regional Enforcers charged in the indictment are RAUL CAVILLO, 33, of Chicago; JOEL NUNEZ, 39, of Chicago; and CARLOS PADILLA JR., 35, of Chicago. A single common name can be shared by many plants. 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. All Rights Reserved. The charges were announced by Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Michael J. Anderson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Lindsay Murphy, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations; and Eddie T. Johnson, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. CHICAGO Dozens of members of the Latin Kings street gang in the Chicago area and northern Indiana have been arrested on charges of a federal racketeering conspiracy that included arson,. Most members are Mexican American or Puerto Rican males. Incas are considered the highest authority within a chapter and oversaw the unlawful affairs of the Latin Kings in their areas, according to the indictment. Authorities said the gang operated like a corporation -- with regions, chapters and a hierarchy - that engaged in gun running, extortion and sex trafficking. Attorneys Jennie Levin, Matthew Hernandez and Morris Pasqual are representing the government in the Gennell, et al, case. 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. Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. William Dennis Salazar, 40, of Hammond; That's because common names are just nicknames for plants. 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. U.S. Attorney David Capp on Tuesday announced federal racketeering charges against 12 additional members of the Latin Kings, a criminal enterprise doing business in Chicago and northwest Indiana. 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. Colon was found guilty on all but one of the 21 counts leveled against him. Colon did come back to Chicago, but not in the way he hoped. Latin Kings often greeted one another, demonstrated their allegiance to the gang, or announced their arrival or presence in a particular area by exclaiming "ADR" or "Amor De Rey," which means. Copyright 2023 WLS-TV. Its that simple." The Latin Kings is a well organized street gang that has specific leadership and is comprised of regions that include multiple chapters. The two gang members sentenced Thursday -- Sisto Bernal and Santiago Gudino -- were originally indicted by federal prosecutors in late 2011 as part of a sweeping, detailed indictment alleging years of crimes, including murders, drug deals and burglaries, committed by 21 members of the Latin Kings. The officer was assisting the FBI. The Chicago Police Department, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Chicago, and the Cook County Sheriffs Police also had significant roles in the investigation, which was conducted through the federal High Intensity Drug-Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and under the umbrella of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). 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. While in federal custody, hes earned his GED and completed college-level classes. Included within the Midwest Region of the Latin Kings were numerous sections of the gang, including the Maywood section and the Melrose Park section, which collectively were referred to as the M-Town section. Jimenez collected dues from the chapters as a way of financially supporting the activities of the region, the indictment states. This indictment also alleges that Alex Guerrero and Antonio Martinez, Jr., while employed as officers with the Chicago Police Department, committed armed robberies on behalf of Bernal, while in some instances in uniform and driving Chicago Police Department issued vehicles. The 66-year-old Colon, Pissetzky said, has high blood pressure, hypertension and prediabetes. This case is being investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; Federal Bureau of Investigation; the U.S. Immigration and Custom Office of Homeland Security Investigations; the National Gang Targeting, Enforcement & Coordination Center; the National Gang Intelligence Center; the Chicago Police Department; the East Chicago Police Department; the Griffith Police Department; the Hammond Police Department; the Highland Police Department; and the Houston Police Department. Mark Anthony Toney a/k/a "Slim," 37, of Lake Village; 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 scope is breathtaking.". Six reputed members of the Latin Kings gang were indicted Tuesday, accused in racketeering conspiracy and other criminal activity, the U.S. attorney's office and Criminal Division of the. The investigations were conducted under the umbrella of the OCDETF program, a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Gennell and Perez, along with two younger circle enforcers and a soldier, are charged in the indictment with attempting to murder an individual in Melrose Park on May 11, 2014, according to the indictment. Courthouse. Assistant U.S. Rockford, IL 61101, Chicago: (312) 353-5300 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. U.S. Attorney Zachary Fardon, FBI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Michael Anderson, and Chicago Police Supt. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 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.) Shane Catone, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Domestic Cannabis Suppression / Eradication Program, Red Ribbon Toolkit - Resources For Your Community, DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Intelligence Research Specialist Job Announcements, Schedule A Hiring Authority: Intelligence Research Specialist, Privacy Impact Assessment and Management Information Systems, Victim Witness Assistance Program Resources, Hiluterio Chavez, 41, of Chicago, Illinois, Sergio Robles, 23, of Hammond, Indiana, Emiliano Esparza, 40 of Chicago, Illinois, Paulino Salazar, 29, of Chicago, Illinois, Santiago Gudino, 27, of Hammond, Indiana, Gabriel Jalomos, 24, of Chicago, Illinois, Oscar Gonzalez, 21, of Hammond, Indiana, David Lira, 38, of Lansing, Illinois, Victor Meza, 23, of Hammond, Indiana, Antonio Gudino, 30, of East Chicago, Indiana, Bianca Fernandez, 22, of Chicago, Illinois, Serina Arambula, 22, of Chicago, Illinois, Alex Guerrero, 41, of Chicago, Illinois, Antonio C. Martinez, Jr., 40, of Chicago, Illinois, Alexander Vargas, 34, of Highland, Indiana, Sisto Bernal, 45, of Chicago, Illinois, Jason Ortiz, 28, of Chicago, Illinois, Brandon Clay, 24, of Chicago, Illinois, Martin Anaya, 41, of Chicago, Illinois, Ivan Quiroz, 30, of Posen, Illinois. It is alleged that Uvalle drove Nicholas Baez and Antonio Gamino to the bar and handed Baez a firearm. ICE identifies and apprehends removable noncitizens, detains these individuals and removes illegal noncitizens from the United States. Caciques charged in the indictment include RAYMOND VASQUEZ, 30, of Chicago, who worked in the 97th Street chapter; and CARLOS CARTAGENA, 35, of Calumet City, in the 102nd Street chapter, according to the indictment. Standing outside was the 16-year-old Colon, armed with a handgun. Among them were the Latin Kings, still one of the largest criminal organizations in the city and suburbs. The 36th defendant is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The public is reminded that indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. "Gang violence, gun violence, senseless violence, the type of violence that plagues our communities, our neighborhoods, in Chicago and beyond," U.S. Attorney Zachary Fardon told reporters at a news conference at the Dirksen U.S. It's a further example that gang crime does not stop at Chicagos borders and can even reach into the bucolic suburbs and small towns that few would ever associate with gangland drug deals and murders. It is a well-organized street gang that has specific leadership and is composed of regions that include multiple chapters. Included within the Midwest Region of the Latin Kings were numerous sections of the gang, including the Maywood section and the Melrose Park section, which collectively were referred to as the M-Town section. 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. Months later, the indictment alleges Robles, Salazer, Chavez and another Latin Kings member bet on who would be the first to successfully carry out Vargas order to kill a Latin Dragon leader. 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. Attorneys Jennie Levin, Matthew Hernandez and Morris Pasqual, Northern District of Illinois, are representing the government in the Gennell, et al, case. They were linked to the Latin Kings, then allied with the Maniac Latin Disciples. 219 S. Dearborn St., 5th Floor 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. Sample Page; ; 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. - A Latin Kings street gang member was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in federal prison for racketeering conspiracy and other crimes in support of the gang. 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. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. WASHINGTONA former Chicago Police officer and two members of the Latin Kings street gang were sentenced this week in Indiana to serve prison time for their roles in a racketeering conspiracy. And one plant can have many . Official websites use .gov Gang . Attorneys Brian Wallach, Derek Owens and Vikas Didwania, Northern District of Illinois, are representing the government in the Cavillo, et al, case. Assistant U.S. Gennell and Perez, along with two younger circle enforcers and a soldier, are charged in the indictment with attempting to murder an individual in Melrose Park on May 11, 2014, according to the indictment. sonicwave 231c non responsive Uncovering hot babes since 1919.. latin king indictment chicago. 12 Latin Kings Gang Members Indicted In Indiana January 25, 2017 / 6:57 AM / CBS Chicago CHICAGO (CBS) -- Twelve members of the Latin Kings gang are now facing narcotics distribution. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. During periods when the M-Town section was split into an older and younger circle, each circle had its own set of leaders, but the ranking members of the younger circle still reported to the ranking members of the older circle, according to the indictment. Fardon, who has made curbing violence one of his top priorities since taking office in 2013, said Tuesday that while bringing big gang cases is "not by itself" a long-term solution to the violence problem, it's an important tool to get "alleged killers and shooters off the streets. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. A 35th alleged Latin Kings member is charged with selling a firearm without a license. "Theres a constant pressure into the neighboring communities,'Capp said. A locked padlock Feds charge dozens of alleged Latin Kings in sweeping conspiracy. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. 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. Have a question about Government Services? The previous Latin King indictment had charged Joseph Uvalle with sex trafficking offenses, and this . Federal prosecutors later said that she served as Colons eyes and ears outside prison, passing along his orders to other Latin Kings. / CBS Chicago, CHICAGO (CBS) - Nearly three dozen alleged members of the Latin King street gang are now accused of murder, arson, assault and extortion, among other crimes, federal officials announced Tuesday. Trial evidence included audio and video recordings of three beatings inflicted upon gang members for violating the rules and testimony documenting three murders and 20 shootings in the Little Village area. An official website of the United States government. 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. According to the indictment, Bernal hired two Chicago police officers to hand over drugs, guns and cash to gang members. According to the indictments filed in this case, the Latin Kings is a nationwide gang that originated in Chicago and has branched out throughout the United States. Baez shot into the bar, striking and killing Raudel Contreras, while Gamino served as a lookout. Combating cross-border criminal activity is a critical component of the overall safety, security and well-being of our nation. The calls often showed Colons wife acting as an operator, connecting him with gang lieutenants. The principal mission of OCDETF is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations. The indictment alleges that the Latin Kings required their members to pay dues, which were used to buy weapons, raise money for bond for jailed gang members and help pay for attorneys. Federal officials say violent gang crime is a regional issue, and they are continuing their hunt for gang members. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our, Feds charge dozens of alleged Latin Kings in sweeping conspiracy. 26 Feb Feb The Latin Kings were formed in Chicago in the 1960s and has grown into one of the largest street gangs in the country, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Colon then walked over to a girl who was in Burrs group. Attorneys Andrew Porter, Nancy DePodesta, and Tinos Diamantatos. Chavez is a convicted felon who is also charged with illegally possessing a .38-caliber pistol in Chicago in the summer of 2014, the indictment states. Get information about how to check in with your local ICE Office here. 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. Twenty-four hours before his scheduled release, federal prosecutors indicted Colon and 12 others on charges of operating a $6 million drug operation out of an apartment at 2420 North Kedzie Avnue between 1995 and 1997. Although 15 Latin Kings members were indicted Friday, only 14 names were . X27 ; s because common names are just nicknames for plants a well Organized street gang that has specific and... Ice Office latin king indictment chicago in with your local ice Office here trafficking and money laundering organizations come back Chicago! 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