Latin Kings Indicted

HAMMOND – United States Attorney David Capp announced federal racketeering charges against 11 additional members of the Latin Kings, a criminal enterprise doing business in Chicago and northwest Indiana. The Indictment also alleges a drug conspiracy in which the 11 plus another additional individual were charged. Named in today’s indictment are:

Jeremiah Shane Farmer, 35, of Hammond, IN

Lazaro Francisco Delgado-Gonzalez, Jr. a/k/a “Pollo Loco”, 27, of Highland, IN

Timothy Maurice Diaz a/k/a “Slice”, 34, of Hammond, IN

Sean Michael Pena a/k/a “Big Body”, 34, of Hammond, IN

Marquis Sean Medellin a/k/a “Kilo”, 30, of Hammond, IN

David Ulmenstine a/k/a “Silent”, 25, of Harvey, IL

Jorge Esqueda a/k/a “Silent”, 22, of East Chicago, IN

Juan Alcaraz a/k/a “Silent”, 28, of Hammond, IN

Miguel Angel Marines a/k/a “Egg”, 22, of East Chicago, IN

Rafael Cancel, 35, of Hammond, IN

Kash Lee Kelly, 28, of Hammond, IN

Eduardo Ivel a/k/a “Little Smiley”, 21, of Hammond, IN

These 12 individuals were added to the existing Latin King indictment pending in the Northern District of Indiana that had previously charged 26 members or associates of the Latin Kings. All of the above, except Kash Lee Kelly, were charged with a conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity. All of the above, including Kash Lee Kelly, were charged with a conspiracy to distribute narcotics.

Law enforcement arrested 8 of these individuals today: Delgado-Gonzalez, Medellin, Ulmenstine, Esqueda, Alcaraz, Marines, Cancel, and Kelly. Two others, Farmer and Ivel, were already in State custody on unrelated charges. Two of the individuals, Timothy Maurice Diaz and Sean Michael Pena, are considered fugitives from justice.

We are currently seeking the whereabouts of:

• (Apprehended)Timothy Maurice Diaz a/k/a “Slice”, 34, of 6320 New Hampshire Avenue Hammond, IN

• Sean Michael Pena a/k/a “Big Body”, 34, of 1148 State St Hammond, IN

If you have any information as to the whereabouts of the above individuals please contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation at 317-595-4000 or Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives at 1-800-ATF-GUNS.

This indictment alleges new overt acts in furtherance of the illegal objectives of the Latin Kings including retaliatory arsons: January 5, 2013 on Durbin Street in Gary and on March 22, 2013 on Sherman Street also in Gary.

The previous indictments had charged Anton James with murder in aid of racketeering for his alleged role in the murder of Martin Hurtado Sr. 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. They also detailed two previously uncharged murders as alleged overt acts in the racketeering conspiracy. On July 18, 2011, Travis Nash was shot and killed in Hammond. 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. The indictment also alleges that on August 14, 2014, Keith Trevor Manuel and Joseph Uvalle (both indicted previously) demanded that members of the Latin Kings take action against Estrella’s Bar in Hammond, Indiana, as the owner of Estrella’s Bar was allowing rival gang members to patronize the bar. It is alleged that Uvalle drove Nicholas Baez and Antonio Gamino to the bar and handed Baez a firearm. Baez shot into the bar, striking and killing Raudel Contreras, while Gamino served as a lookout. In addition, Latin King indictments had charged Joseph Uvalle with sex trafficking offenses, and this indictment carries those charges over unchanged from the previous indictment.

This indictment is part of the ongoing effort by local and federal law enforcement to remove criminal organizations from the streets of northwest Indiana.

United States Attorney Capp said, “As I have repeatedly stated, if you are a member of or associate with these criminal organizations we are coming after you. It may take us months or it may take longer but we are coming after you.”

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.

If convicted in court, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

This case is the result of the investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Chicago Police Department, the East Chicago Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Gary Police Department, the Hammond Police Department, the Lake County, Indiana, Sheriff’s Department and Lake County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area officers and agents. The Northern District of Illinois United States Attorney’s Office and the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office also has provided assistance. The Latin King case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. Nozick, Dean Lanter and Abizer Zanzi of the Northern District of Indiana.

# # #