Federal authorities dealt a blow to the Latin Kings street gang Tuesday, indicting 12 suspected gang members or associates as part of an ongoing racketeering investigation into narcotics dealing across Northwest Indiana.
Named in the indictment are: Jeremiah Shane Farmer, 35, of Hammond; Lazaro Francisco “Pollo Loco” Delgado-Gonzalez Jr., 27, of Highland; Timothy Maurice “Slice” Diaz, 34, of Hammond; Sean Michael “Big Body” Pena, 34, of Hammond; Marquis Sean “Kilo” Medellin, 30, of Hammond; David “Silent” Ulmenstine, 25, of Harvey, Ill.; Jorge “Silent” Esqueda, 22, 22, of East Chicago; Juan “Silent” Alcaraz, 28, of Hammond; Miguel Angel “Egg” Marines, 22, of East Chicago; Rafael Cancel, 35, of Hammond; Kash Lee Kelly, 28, of Hammond; and Eduardo “Little Smiley” Ivel, 21, of Hammond.
With the exception of Kelly, the men are charged with conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity, announced David Capp, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana. All 12 are charged with conspiracy to distribute narcotics.
On Tuesday, federal authorities arrested eight of the 12 men. Farmer and Ivel were already in state custody on unrelated charges, while Diaz and Pena are considered fugitives from justice, the release said.
Diaz lists an address in the 6300 block of New Hampshire Avenue in the Hessville section of Hammond, and Pena lives in the 1100 block of State Street, Hammond. Anyone with information as to their whereabouts are encouraged to contact the FBI at 317-595-4000 or the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives at 1-800-ATF-GUNS.
Capp said the Latin Kings “are a shadow” of the criminal organization previously operating in Hammond, East Chicago and the Black Oak area of Gary.
“As I have repeatedly stated, if you are a member of or associate with these criminal organizations, we are coming after you,” Capp said. “It may take us months or it may take longer, but we are coming after you.”
Capp said the case is the result of the investigative efforts of agents and officers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Chicago Police Department; East Chicago Police Department, FBI, Gary Police Department, Hammond Police Department, Lake County Sheriff’s Department; and the Lake County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area unit.
Also assisting with the investigation were the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Northern District of Illinois and the Lake County Prosecutor’s office.
Jim Masters is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
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