May 2, 2014

Two Alleged Members of the Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation Indicted for Murder in Aid of Racketeering

WASHINGTON—Two alleged members of the Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation have been indicted for their alleged roles in a 2007 murder in the Southern District of Florida.

Acting Assistant Attorney David A. O’Neil of the Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro of the FBI’s Miami Field Office made the announcement.

The indictment returned by a federal grand jury on May 1, 2014, and unsealed today in the Southern District of Florida charges Jose Herrera, aka “Spyro,” 27, and Leonel Carrera, aka “Leo,” 25, both of Miami, with murder in aid of racketeering activity. Herrera and Carrera were both arrested this morning.

The indictment alleges that Herrera and Carrera participated in the murder of Hockynson Sanchez, aka “Jaxx,” on November 20, 2007, for the purpose of maintaining and increasing their position in the Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation.

According to the indictment, the Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation is a nationally known organized street gang that originated in the northwest side of Chicago and spread to other regions of the United States, including South Florida. Members and associates of the Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation allegedly engaged in acts of violence, including murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery, and aggravated assault, as well as narcotics distribution and other criminal activities.

This case is being investigated by the FBI field offices in Miami, Chicago, and Merrillville, Indiana, along with the Miami-Dade Police Department, the City of Miami Police Department, the Chicago Police Department, the Franklin Park, Illinois, Police Department, and the East Chicago Police Department. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana, the State Attorney’s Offices of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, the Florida Department of Correction, and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office assisted with this case.

The case is being prosecuted by Joseph A. Cooley and Rebecca A. Staton of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, as well as the Forfeiture Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.

The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.