FLORIDA — Five alleged members of a violent street gang were indicted Monday for multiple murders in Illinois, Indiana and Florida.
The five – who are alleged members of the Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation gang – were indicted by a federal grand jury in Florida.
A sixth alleged gang member was indicted for unlawfully possessing a firearm.
“According to charges unsealed today, members of the Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation committed multiple murders and racketeering crimes, injecting violence and chaos into communities in Chicago, Miami and Indiana,” said Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell. “Gang violence is a serious, nationwide problem, and the Department pursues a nationwide strategy, working with federal, state, and local law enforcement to dismantle the gangs and stop the bloodshed.”
The indictment was returned by a federal grand jury on July 31, 2014 and unsealed Monday:
The following defendants were indicted:
- Jose Herrera, aka “Spyro,” 27
- Leonel Carrera, aka “Leo,” 25
- Victor Lopez, aka “Magic,” 28
- Ramon Madruga, aka “Porky,” 28
- Alex Enrique Somarriba, aka “A-Rock,” 27
The suspects are all from Miami.
The indictment states that the defendants were involved in a conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity, including murder.
Brandon Foeman, aka “Drama,” 28, of Weston, Florida, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The six defendants are in custody.
According to the indictment, Herrera, Carrera, Lopez, Madruga and Somarriba are members of the Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation, which is a nationally-known organized street gang that originated in the northwest side of Chicago.
The indictment states that the gang has spread to other regions of the United States, including South Florida. Members and associates of the Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation allegedly engaged in acts of violence, including murder, attempted murder, battery, aggravated battery, and aggravated assault, as well as narcotics distribution and other criminal activities.
Specifically, the indictment charges that the gang is responsible for three murders in Miami, one in Chicago and one East Chicago, Indiana, including the murders of Rivky Josma on Aug. 4, 2006, Hockynson Sanchez on Nov. 20, 2007, and Mauricio Waikay on Feb. 25, 2011.
Defendants are innocent until proven guilty.