Superseding Indictment Returned Charging Major Street Gang in RICO Conspiracy
| U.S. Attorney’s Office November 10, 2011 |
HAMMOND, IN—The United States Attorney’s Office announced a superseding indictment charging 12 alleged members of the Imperial Gangsters street gang in a 20-count indictment.
Count 1 charges the following individuals with conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity:
- Juan Briseno, 22, of East Chicago, Indiana
- Galo Benjanim Feliciano, 23, of East Chicago, Indiana
- Guillermo Briseno, 26, of East Chicago, Indiana
- Alejandro Balboa Lara, 24, of East Chicago, Indiana
- Justin Weaver, 19, of Hammond, Indiana
- Michael Anthony Castillo, 20, of East Chicago, Indiana
- Kevin Jefferson Beltran, 19, of Hammond, Indiana
- David Almaraz, 23, of Hammond, Indiana
- Joseph Renee Torres, 19, of East Chicago, Indiana
- Jason Medina, 28, unknown address
- Edward Raye Serna, 32, of Gary, Indiana
This conspiracy count alleges multiple homicides, attempted homicides, narcotics offenses and firearm offenses that occurred between June 2004 and November 2011.
In addition, the indictment charges Juan Briseno with one count of murder in aid of racketeering activity and a related firearm count for each of the following five homicides:
- The double homicide of Michael Sessum and Miguel Mejias on June 3, 2008.
- The homicide of Harris Brown on October 9, 2008.
- The homicide of Miguel Colon on February 7, 2010.
- The homicide of Latroy Howard on June 19, 2010.
Galo Benjamin Feliciano and Joseph Rene Torres are each charged with one count of murder in aid of racketeering activity and a related firearm count for the murder of Jesus Alvarez on March 26, 2010. Feliciano is also charged with Juan Briseno for the murder of Miguel Colon. Alejandro Briseno is charged with one count of accessory after the fact, as he is alleged to have assisted Juan Briseno and Galo Feliciano after they murdered Miguel Colon.
Galo Feliciano is also charged with attempted murder in aid of racketeering activity and a related firearm charge for an attempted murder that occurred on September 10, 2009. Jason Medina and Edward Raye Serna are charged with committing the same offenses stemming from a separate incident on June 6, 2011.
Alejandro Balboa Lara is also charged with two counts of distributing marijuana.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the East Chicago Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Hammond Police Department and the Lake County HIDTA. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Nozick.
The specific sentence in each case to be imposed upon conviction will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasized that an Indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.