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 . Fifty years ago this week June 27, 1971 Gustavo Colon, a teen Latin King, shot and killed Glenn Burr, a teen Vice Lord, at the intersection of Potomac Avenue and Leavitt Street. 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. It was just before 10 p.m. on June 27, 1971 when Burr, who was 16 years old, and four others left his home in the 1300 block of North Leavitt Street. "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. The Latin Kings is a well organized street gang that has . "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. The defendant, Vicente Garcia, Jr., 35, the Supreme Regional Inca of the Almighty Latin King Nation, who oversaw the day-to-day illegal activities of all factions of the gang with some 10,000 members in Illinois alone, has been in federal custody since late 2008 and must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence. Vargas then allegedly sought to have others shoot people who were attending Delatorres funeral on Dec. 2, 2006. 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. 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. For media inquiries about this release, call (312) 446-7872. 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. 26 Feb Feb 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. The public is reminded that indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Nov. 18, 2011: Under the guise of real police busts, authorties say pair handed cash, guns and drugs to Latin King gang leaders between 2004 and 2006. Garcia and Zambrano were the highest-ranking Latin Kings to be convicted and sentenced since Gustavo Gino Colon, who also holds the title of Corona, was sentenced to life in prison in 2000. Detectives seized drugs with a combined street value of almost a million dollars and other valuable items purchased with illicit cash. CHICAGO Before gentrification changed the face of Wicker Park, swaths of the neighborhood were claimed by a handful of street gangs. The multi-jurisdiction investigation started in 2013. Official websites use .gov 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. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines. Leaders of one of the city's most notorious criminal gangs, the Latin Kings, were charged yesterday with attempted murder, murder, racketeering, heroin and cocaine trafficking, and other crimes. Assistant U.S. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. During the attempted murder, the two enforcers, Efrain Medina, 26, of Maywood, and Jose Pena, 21, of Melrose Park, personally discharged a firearm that left the victim badly injured and permanently disfigured, according to the indictment. snake age in human years. 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,. 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. 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. CHICAGO (WLS) -- Thirty-six alleged members of the Latin Kings street gang were charged Tuesday, accused of participating in a criminal organization that violently acted to protect its. Each of the persons named today are charged with a conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity and with a conspiracy to distribute narcotics. Another top ranking Latin Kings member, Alexander Vargas, has already pled guilty to racketeering, drug conspiracy and murder charges. He lived in a house in suburban Highland.. 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 testimony showed they had to defend their turf with guns and be ready to fire at rivals. "If theres any member of a criminal organization in northwest Indiana or south Chicago continuing to operate, were going to get you. Colon then walked over to a girl who was in Burrs group. During the four-year investigation, law enforcement developed evidence that the Latin Kings trafficked drugs, conspired to murder more than 10 victims, and committed violent crimes including numerous incidents of robbery, shootings, stabbings and witness intimidation. "I think it's a major set-back for the Latin Kings nation operating in this region," said U.S. Attorney Zachary Fardon during a press conference in Chicago. 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. CHICAGOThe second highest-ranking leader nationwide of the Latin Kings street gang was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison after being convicted at trial in 2011 of racketeering. Several of the defendants were arrested this week and have begun making initial appearances in federal court in Chicago. Miguel Angel Marines, or "Egg," of East Chicago; Rafael Cancel, 35 of Hammond; and; Kash Lee . 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. They were linked to the Latin Kings, then allied with the Maniac Latin Disciples. Fardon declined to elaborate Tuesday on the circumstances of that alleged incident. In the news: Jurors In Alex Murdaugh Double-Murder Trial To Visit Moselle Dog Kennels, House. The purpose of the assault was to maintain and increase their position in the Latin Kings, the indictment states. 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. An official website of the United States government. Colon was found guilty on all but one of the 21 counts leveled against him. 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. First published on July 26, 2016 / 2:23 PM. The U.S. Attorney's Office announced charges against 36 members of the gang in two indictments, one focusing on the gang's activity on the Southeast Side of Chicago and the other on their. The common name - often a cutesy marketing moniker - can get you into trouble. 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 34 individuals were charged with racketeering conspiracy. 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. Feds charge dozens of alleged Latin Kings in sweeping conspiracy. 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. 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 scope is breathtaking.". 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. In addition to RICO conspiracy, Garcia was convicted of assault with a dangerous weapon and using a firearm during a violent crime. Feds: Chicago cops helped Latin Kings with Chicago, Indiana crimes By Michael Puente. CHICAGO (WLS) -- Thirty-six alleged members of the Latin Kings street gang were charged Tuesday, accused of participating in a criminal organization that violently acted to protect its territories in Chicago, the suburbs and northwest Indiana, federal authorities announced. "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. Chicago, IL 60604 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. Efren DelAngel a/k/a "Payoso," 21, of Hammond; Hes also taken other courses that focus on keeping away from the sort of criminal activities that got him locked up in the first place. 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 new 53-page document also adds 14 new defendants to a prosecution that began in summer 2016. Assistant U.S. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. In certain instances, Guerrero and Martinez allegedly were given a portion of the funds they stole as payment for committing the armed robberies. 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. According to the indictment, Bernal hired two Chicago police officers to hand over drugs, guns and cash to gang members. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, CFD: 1 injured, building collapses in West Town fire. 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. Indictment: U.S.A. v. Gennell, et al, 16 CR 462, Indictment: U.S.A. v. Cavillo, et al, 16 CR 463. 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