Four local men, including two whom prosecutors called “high-ranking members” of a Joliet street gang, were arraigned Tuesday on murder charges in connection with the firebombing death of a 91-year-old woman.
In addition, nine other men were arraigned on a charge of conspiracy to commit murder, and four others were arraigned on charges of mob action.
The court action came less than two weeks after 41 alleged gang members were indicted in three gang-related slayings by a Will County grand jury. At the time, Will County State’s Atty. James Glasgow said the indictments had severely crippled two of the four gangs operating in the Joliet area.
According to Assistant State’s Atty. Ray Nash, both Fidel Nino and Anthony Montoya Jr. are “high-level or high-ranking members” of a street gang that set up “a retaliation or assassination squad” that included both bomb throwers and security personnel.
Last Nov. 21, two firebombs thrown into a two-story frame house on Meeker Street killed Nicolasa Esquibel, a 91-year-old bedridden woman. Law enforcement officials say the bombing was directed against one of the victim’s grandsons, who was an admitted street gang member.
Others charged with murder were Fred Gonzalez, 17, and Mario Gonzalez, 16. All are being held without bond in the Will County Jail.
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A fifth man, Michael Martinez, is also charged with murder, but authorities believe he may have fled the area.
The nine facing conspiracy to commit murder charges are all being held on $500,000 bond.
All those arraigned Tuesday were allegedly part of the same street gang. Another group of defendants, belonging to a second street gang, is scheduled for arraignment Thursday in connection with two other gang murders last fall.