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 In late 2006, ATF agents led an investigation that resulted in federal drug trafficking and firearms charges against 38 Latin Kings members and associates. Zambrano, a so-called "Corona" whose power stretched from Chicago's Little Village neighborhood to the East Coast and Texas, was convicted in 2011 of racketeering conspiracy for orchestrating violence and drug dealing in Chicago. Colons wife was among his co-defendants. The Latin Kings indictment included accounts of 12 homicides in Chicago, six in Indiana and two in Texas. He lived in a house in suburban Highland.. CPD officer shot, killed on SW Side, police say: LIVE. 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. While locked up, Colon ascended to the rank of Corona the top Latin Kings decision-maker. In 2020, QUINCY J. ARNOLD illegally possessed a loaded semiautomatic handgun, cocaine, and heroin in Bellwood, Ill. Eastern Division The 66-year-old Colon, Pissetzky said, has high blood pressure, hypertension and prediabetes. Delgado is charged with being a felon in possession of a loaded Tauras .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol in Chicago, the indictment states. The Indictment also alleges a drug conspiracy in which the 11-plus another additional individual were charged. Jimenez collected dues from the chapters as a way of financially supporting the activities of the region, the indictment states. 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. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. 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. Authorities uncovered the alleged gang activity through dual investigations conducted under the umbrella of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). In one instance, a musician in Little Village for a performance was shot while he and his friends drove through the neighborhood. An official website of the United States government. The . He and one of his friends soon approached the group, according to court records. It is alleged that Uvalle drove Nicholas Baez and Antonio Gamino to the bar and handed Baez a firearm. The charges, which name more than four dozen alleged gang members in Indiana and the Chicago area, also detail how the Latin Kings organization enforces discipline within its own ranks and retaliates against rivals and former members to prevent cooperation with law enforcement. King and Issa are also in federal custody. Another two alleged members were charged with lesser weapons charges. Attorneys Andrew Porter, Nancy DePodesta, and Tinos Diamantatos. Rockford, IL 61101, Chicago: (312) 353-5300 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. 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. 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. 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,. Colon was arrested two months after the shooting. Over 650 law enforcement agents started making arrests around 4:00 a.m. on Thursday that saw 62 alleged gang members charged. He ascended the gang ranks while in prison, eventually becoming leader of Latin Kings and calling the shots from behind bars. Contact Us- Overview- Territory/Jurisdiction, News and Outreach- Press Room | Stories- In Your Community, About Us- Our People & Capabilities- What We Investigate- Our Partnerships- Chicago History, This content has been reproduced from its. Several other firearm-related offenses are charged in the indictment. 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 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. 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. 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. Named in today's two-count superseding indictment are: This fifth superseding indictment alleges a conspiracy to commit . The .gov means its official. 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. David Capp, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, said Vargas led two lives that stretched across state lines. 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. 39-year-old Jeremiah Farmer, of Hammond, Indiana, is a member of various Indiana factions of the Chicago-based Latin Kings. An undated photo of Gustavo Colon | Provided by the Chicago Crime Commission. Fardon declined to elaborate Tuesday on the circumstances of that alleged incident. Over time, however, the gang morphed into a criminal enterprise. 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. On the same day, Vargas directed Quiroz, Chavez and other Latin Kings enforcers to increase their efforts to murder leaders of the Latin Dragon gangs in retaliation for the Oct. 2, 2006, murder of Vargas younger brother. Also charged in the indictment are several alleged chapter leaders, known within the hierarchy as Incas, and their second in commands, known as Caciques.According to the indictment, Paul Vasquez, 43, of Chicago, served as Inca of the 82nd Street chapter; Ruben Porraz, 36, of Chicago, was Inca of the 89th Street chapter; Edward Delgado Jr., 31, of Chicago, and Luis Gomez, 31, of Chicago, were at times Incas of the 97th Street chapter; Miguel Denava, 27, of Chicago, served as Inca of the 99th Street chapter; and Eloy Fuentes, 31, of Chicago, was Inca of the 104th Street chapter. The Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation ( ALKQN, ALKN, or LKN, also known as simply Latin Kings) is one of the largest Hispanic and Latino street and prison gangs worldwide. 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. Baez shot into the bar, striking and killing Raudel Contreras, while Gamino served as a lookout. DePodesta said one of the most disturbing aspects about the gang was the dues members were forced to pay money earmarked for criminal defense attorneys and sometimes even funeral expenses. 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 this indictment, the Latin Kings is nationwide gang that originated in Chicago and has branched out throughout the United States, including to Texas. 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. Feds: Chicago cops helped Latin Kings with Chicago, Indiana crimes By Michael Puente. Pissetzky noted that Colons brother Cristobal, himself a former member of the Latin Kings, has for more than 25 years served as the pastor of Gods Army Ministries, a church on the Northwest Side. 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. In addition to RICO conspiracy, Garcia was convicted of assault with a dangerous weapon and using a firearm during a violent crime. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The 34 individuals were charged with racketeering conspiracy. (Jason Meisner / Chicago Tribune) (Chicago Tribune). The day before his scheduled release in 1997, Colon and a dozen others were charged by the feds with running a multi-million dollar narcotics operation from an apartment in Logan Square. 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. Capp said the crime rate dropped dramatically after the federal crackdown on regional gangs. 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. 26 Feb Feb The officer was assisting agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation at the time of the attempted killing, according to the indictment. Eddie Johnson. Of those 31 defendants, 24 pleaded guilty, four were convicted at trial, and three remain fugitives. Paulino Salazar and David Lira are considered fugitives. 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. 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. He put the gun to her head and pulled the trigger, but it didnt fire. Edgar Velarde-Saldana, 33, of Maywood, a so-called "soldier" in M-Town, is charged with trying to kill a Melrose Park police officer on July 6, 2014. - 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. Though prison phone calls are recorded, Colon frequently discussed gang business with his wife, Marisol. Two indictments focus on the Latin Kings' dealings on the Southeast Side and in the western suburbs of Maywood and Melrose Park, known as "M-Town." Several of those charged have already been. During that time, authorities in both Chicago and northwest Indiana combined efforts to take approximately forty gang members off the streets. Colon is now 66 and facing several health issues. CHICAGO Before gentrification changed the face of Wicker Park, swaths of the neighborhood were claimed by a handful of street gangs. 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 Latin Kings is a well organized street gang that has specific leadership and is comprised of regions that include multiple chapters. Among them were the Latin Kings, still one of the largest criminal organizations in the city and suburbs. Nicholas Baez a/k/a "Cali," 22, of Whiting; ICE identifies and apprehends removable noncitizens, detains these individuals and removes illegal noncitizens from the United States. 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." 219 S. Dearborn St., 5th Floor In one instance, Bernal, Gudino, Robles, Jalomos and others allegedly caused Jonathan Zimmerman to be transported to Hammond and then murdered him for using counterfeit currency to purchase drugs. Efren DelAngel a/k/a "Payoso," 21, of Hammond; The third superseding indictment returned by the federal grand jury on November 16, 2011, and unsealed on November 18, 2011, charges twenty defendants with conspiracy to engage in racketeering activity. Copyright 2023 WLS-TV. Delgado is charged with being a felon in possession of a loaded Tauras .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol in Chicago, the indictment states. 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. 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. The indictment alleges that Reynaldo Robles, acting at the direction of Aldon Perez (indicted previously), shot and killed Nash, believing him to be a rival gang member. 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,. 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. Several of the defendants were arrested this week and have begun making initial appearances in federal court in Chicago. HAMMOND - United States Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II announced federal racketeering and drug conspiracy charges against 6 members of the Latin Kings, a criminal enterprise operating in Chicago and Northwest Indiana. 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. 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. For media inquiries about this release, call (312) 446-7872. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The principal mission of OCDETF is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations. M-Town Section (Melrose Park and Maywood). Today's indictment also details two previously uncharged murders. The officers served as enforcers and were often in uniform to perform various robberies, burglaries and auto stops. 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. Also charged in the indictment is Juan Jimenez, 33, of Blue Island, Illinois, who allegedly served as the Southeast Regional Treasurer. 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. Several of those charged began making initial appearances in federal court this week. 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. sonicwave 231c non responsive Uncovering hot babes since 1919.. latin king indictment chicago. she said. He had absolute power, one former Latin King said of Colons grip on the gang. Denied reelection, whats ousted Lightfoots legacy? He was not a cartel leader from Mexico like Chapo or anything like that.. 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. 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. During the two-month trial, prosecutors played dozens of recorded phone calls that illustrated Colons control of the Latin Kings. 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. Jimenez collected dues from the chapters as a way of financially supporting the activities of the region, the indictment states. 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. Named in Tuesday's indictment are: Jeremiah Shane Farmer, 35, of Hammond,. Another top ranking Latin Kings member, Alexander Vargas, has already pled guilty to racketeering, drug conspiracy and murder charges. "Part of our evidence was that while he was -- during the day -- engaging in criminal affairs with the Latin Kings in Chicago, in the evening hed return to one of our suburban communities to attend Little League games,"Capp said. A lock ( Darrick Vallodolid, 27, of Hobart; "I think it is a major setback for the Latin King nation operating in this region," Fardon said. Another top ranking Latin Kings member, Alexander Vargas, has already pled. 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 geographical location controlled by the Maywood section included the area east of 25th Avenue, west of 1st Avenue, north of Lake Street, and south of North Avenue, in the western suburbs of Maywood and Melrose Park, according to the indictment. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, CFD: 1 injured, building collapses in West Town fire. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. With a body mass index of 33, Colon is also considered obese. They operate with the efficiency and structure of a large corporation, with orders flowing down from the top, an employee handbook of rules to follow and a disciplinary system for those who violate the organization's standards. On July 18, 2011, Travis Nash was shot and killed in Hammond. 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. According to the indictment, Bernal hired two Chicago police officers to hand over drugs, guns and cash to gang members. 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. Mario A. Hernandez, 41, of Maywood, is a convicted felon who allegedly illegally possessed a Smith & Wesson 556-caliber rifle. 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 is currently held at a federal prison in Kentucky. He has yet to be sentenced. 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 public is reminded that indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. After 25 years in state prison, Colon was set to be released in 1997. Official websites use .gov Two Chicago police officers are accused of . announced the charges. Its not clear when the judge overseeing the case will issue a ruling. The following year, Colon was sentenced to at least 30 years in state prison for the murder. And one plant can have many . 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 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. 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. During the multi-year probes, authorities confiscated more than 40 firearms, including two AR-15 assault rifles. Garcia was among a total of 31 co-defendants who were indicted in September 2008 or charged in a superseding indictment in October 2009. Two newly unsealed indictments follow a multi-year probe, which included a recent raid in Whiting, Ind., and alleges that gang members violently enforced discipline within its ranks and retaliated against rivals and former members to prevent cooperation with law enforcement, federal officials said. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. A 35th alleged Latin King is charged in the indictment with selling a firearm without a license. [22] [23] [24] The gang was founded by Puerto Ricans in Chicago, Illinois in 1954. Call 1-866-DHS-2-ICE to report suspicious activityReport Crime, Learn facts about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The indictment includes the previous charges alleging that the 12 remaining . 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. 5 min read. Those charged are accused of murder, attempted murder, assault with dangerous weapons, arson and extortion, according to the indictments. Attorneys Brian Wallach, Derek Owens and Vikas Didwania, Northern District of Illinois, are representing the government in the Cavillo, et al, case. 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. 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, Illinois, in the 102nd Street chapter, according to the indictment. 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. 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. snake age in human years. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( In certain instances, Guerrero and Martinez allegedly were given a portion of the funds they stole as payment for committing the armed robberies. 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 . On Tuesday, officials used a map with yellow dots showing that the gang activities spanned Southeast Chicago, the south suburbs, the western suburbs of Maywood and Melrose Place, as well as the northwest Indiana. The Latin Kings is a well organized street gang that has specific leadership and is comprised of regions that include multiple chapters. Delgado also faces a drug-related charge for allegedly distributing cocaine in Chicago in April 2014. 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.

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