INDIANA
A jury convicted two Lake County, Indiana men, both members of the Chicago-based Latin Kings, of racketeering activity and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute cocaine, marijuana and alprazolam, according to officials.
After an 11-day trial, a jury convicted Darrick Vallodolid aka Deuce, 28, of Hobart, Indiana and Robert Nieto aka Cowboy, 44, of Gary, Indiana.
The jury found that, as part of the racketeering conspiracy, on Sunday, April 12, 2009, Victor Lusinski, 15, of Lansing, Illinois, was riding a bicycle near an elementary school in Hammond, Indiana, when Vallodolid shot and killed him with a .22 caliber firearm, believing him to be a rival gang member.
The evidence indicated that on Dec. 2, 2013, Rolando Correa, 22, of Gary, Indiana, was killed in Gary when coming to the aid of his next-door neighbors, who were victims of a home invasion robbery which Nieto assisted in setting up and listened to a police scanner to assist in the escape of the robbers.
The jury also found that Valladolid and Nieto each conspired to distribute or possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine as part of the racketeering conspiracy and drug conspiracy. In addition, the jury also found that Valladolid and Nieto each conspired to distribute or possess with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana as part of the drug conspiracy.
“The defendants participated in unspeakable violence on behalf of their vicious Latin Kings gang, including the senseless murder of a 15-year-old boy who was riding his bicycle near an elementary school in Hammond,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Cronan. “These convictions further demonstrate the Department of Justice’s ongoing and unwavering commitment to attacking the scourge of gang violence on the streets of Chicago, Hammond, Gary, and throughout our country.”
According to evidence presented at trial and case documents, about 43 defendants were charged with racketeering conspiracy as members of the Latin Kings in a criminal conspiracy that spanned a period from 2003 until November 2017.
The racketeering conspiracy charge alleges that gang members and associates were participants in a racketeering conspiracy that involved murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, sex trafficking, and narcotics distribution, according to authorities.