Defendant Pleads Guilty in Latin Kings RICO Conspiracy

HAMMOND, IN—The last defendant in custody of 23 charged in the Latin King RICO conspiracy indictments pled guilty today, announced U.S. Attorney David Capp of the Northern District of Indiana and Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

Dante Reyes, 35, a citizen of Mexico, pled guilty before Senior District Judge Rudy Lozano to the felony offense of conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity.

Previously charged and entered a plea of guilty in the case are:

• Alexander Vargas, 35, of Highland, Indiana
• Sisto Bernal, 46, of Chicago, Illinois
• Jose Zambrano, 33, of Chicago, Illinois
• Jason Ortiz, 30, of Chicago, Illinois
• Brandon Clay, 26, of Chicago, Illinois
• Jermaine Ellis, 23, of Chicago, Illinois
• Martin Anaya, 42, of Chicago, Illinois
• Ivan Quiroz, 30, of Posen, Illinois
• Hiluterio Chavez, 37, of Chicago, Illinois
• Sergio Robles, 24, of Hammond, Indiana
• Emiliano Esparza, 40 of Chicago, Illinois
• Santiago Gudino, 28, of Hammond, Indiana
• Gabriel Jalomos, 26, of Chicago, Illinois
• Oscar Gonzalez, 23, of Hammond, Indiana
• David Lira, 39, of Lansing, Illinois
• Victor Meza, 24, of Hammond, Indiana
• Antonio Gudino, 31, of East Chicago, Indiana
• Bianca Fernandez, 23, of Chicago, Illinois
• Alex Guerrero, 43, of Chicago, Illinois
• Antonio C. Martinez, Jr., 42, of Chicago, Illinois
• Also charged, and still at large, is Paulino Salazar, 30, of Chicago, Illinois

Six of the defendants have been sentenced:

• Brandon Clay was sentenced to 360 months’ imprisonment.
• David Lira was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment.
• Antonio Gudino was sentenced to 175 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity.
• Victor Meza, Jr. was sentenced to 96 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribute cocaine and marijuana.
• Bianca Fernandez was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to murder in aid of racketeering activity.
• Alex Guerrero was sentenced to 228 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity, conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribute cocaine and marijuana. Interference with commerce by threats or violence and use and carrying of a firearm during and in relation to crimes of violence and drug trafficking.

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 Latin Kings is a well-organized street gang that has specific leadership and is composed of regions that include multiple chapters. The indictments filed in these cases allege that the Latin Kings gang was responsible for at least 19 murders in the Chicago/Northwest Indiana area and Big Spring, Texas.

United States Attorney David Capp stated, “The Latin King indictments and the subsequent arrests and guilty pleas by all has had a major, positive impact on the level of violence in our communities. My thanks to all for the tireless efforts by our local and federal law enforcement and our attorneys. We are not finished—we will continue to investigate and prosecute members of organized criminal gangs or those who deal with such individuals.”

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, 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.

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.