Six Latin King Gang Members Sentenced for Racketeering

HAMMOND, IN—The United States Attorney’s Office announced the following activity in federal court:

Six members of the Latin Kings street gang were sentenced before Senior District Judge Rudy Lozano in federal court this week for racketeering conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney David Capp and Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

• Oscar Gonzalez, 23, of Hammond, was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment and, if not deported, five years of supervised release after pleading guilty on June 26, 2012, to the felony offense of conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribute cocaine and marijuana.
• Martin Anaya, 42, of Chicago, was sentenced to 360 months in prison and five years of supervised release after a jury returned a guilty verdict on September 25, 2012, to racketeering and drug conspiracies.
• Jason Ortiz, 29, of Chicago, was sentenced to serve 300 months in prison and five years of supervised release after pleading guilty on July 30, 2010, to racketeering conspiracy. During his guilty plea proceeding, Ortiz acknowledged that on February 25, 2007, he, along with four other defendants, rode on a “mission” from Illinois to Griffith, Indiana. While armed with three firearms, they were ordered to ambush rival gang members who were attending a party. Once two Latin Dragon members—James Walsh, aka “Jim Boy,” and Gonzalo Diaz—left the party, the Latin Kings, including Ortiz, rode up in a vehicle, and two of Ortiz’s co-defendants got out of the vehicle and shot and killed Walsh and Diaz.
• Jermaine Ellis, 23, of Chicago, was sentenced to 205 months’ imprisonment and years of supervised release after pleading guilty on October 21, 2010, to the felony offense of conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity. Ellis, who became a Latin King member at an early age, admitted that while a juvenile he participated in the shooting deaths of James Walsh and Gonzalo Diaz in Griffith, Indiana.
• Antonio Martinez, Jr., 42, of Chicago, a former officer with the Chicago Police Department, was sentenced to 144 months’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release after pleading guilty on December 2, 2011, to the felony offense of conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity. According to court records, Martinez and another officer committed armed robberies on behalf of a Latin Kings gang member, at times while in uniform and driving police-issued vehicles. They stole drugs, weapons, and cash and in some instances were given a portion of the funds they stole as payment for committing the armed robberies.
• Hiluterio Chavez, 37, of Chicago, was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release after pleading guilty on January 24, 2012, to the felony offense of conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity. Among other crimes, Chavez participated in a robbery with Martinez and presented himself as a law enforcement officer.

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 Latin Kings is a well organized street gang that has specific leadership and is composed of regions that include multiple chapters. The Latin Kings enforces its rules and promotes discipline among its members, prospects, and associates through murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, assault, and threats against those who violate the rules or pose a threat to the Latin Kings. Members are required to follow the orders of higher-ranking members, including taking on assignments often referred to as “missions.” The indictments charge that the Latin Kings were responsible for more than 20 murders.

Twenty-three Latin Kings members and associates have been indicted in this case. Fourteen have now been sentenced. Of the nine remaining, seven have pled guilty, one case was dismissed, and one is a fugitive.

These cases were 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 and 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. 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. 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.