A federal grand jury indicted four members of the Latin Dragon Nation street gang for their involvement in two murders and other shootings in Northwest Indiana and Chicago area, officials announced Tuesday.
The RICO indictment was for conspiracy and related charges.
According to the indictment, Manuel Diaz, 26, of Hammond, Indiana; Eduardo Diaz-Corral, 20, of Calumet City, Illinois; Ralph Mendez Jr., 22, of Hammond, Indiana; and Joseph Roggenkamp, 20, of East Chicago, Indiana, are alleged to be members of the Latin Dragon Nation.
“Street gangs are terrorizing our neighborhoods with senseless violence that effects the daily lives of ordinary, law-abiding citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch. “As this indictment makes clear, gang activity does not stop at the state line, and neither do our investigations and prosecutions. My office, and the federal, state and local law enforcement agencies with whom we work, will fight tirelessly to combat the senseless violence that results from gang activity. We will never tolerate gang violence and will do everything possible to deter and defeat it.”
The indictment alleges that Diaz, Diaz-Corral, Mendez, and Roggenkamp participated in a criminal enterprise that resulted in the murders of Paul Cruz on Nov. 20, 2016, and Charles Berrios on Sept. 30, 2016.
Both victims were believed by the defendants to be members or associates of a rival gang.
In addition, according to the indictment the defendants participated in other shootings for the purpose of furthering the goals of the Latin Dragon Nation.
The defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
According to the indictment, the Latin Dragon Nation is a street gang that originated in Chicago and spread to other areas, including the Northern District of Indiana.
Members and associates of the Latin Dragon Nation allegedly engaged in acts of violence, including murder, attempted murder, battery, aggravated battery, and aggravated assault, witness intimidation, as well as narcotics distribution and other criminal activities.