Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, Hugo Barrera, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), and Ric L. Bradshaw, Sheriff, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, announced today the sentencing of Jonathan Gonzalez, the leader of the Krazy Locos criminal street gang of Lake Worth, Florida, his brothers, Ivan Isidro Santiago and Christopher Gonzalez-Chamberlain, and three other gang members and associates, Manuel Medina, Alejandro Tomas, and Itzel Candela-Campos, for their roles in two homicides, three non-fatal shootings, narcotics and firearms trafficking, and obstruction of justice.
U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer stated, “The success of this prosecution is due, in no small part, to the selfless and cooperative relationship between many federal and state agencies, all working towards the common goal of combating violent street crime and making our communities safer. By working together, pooling our resources, and sharing the work load, we succeeded in dismantling a violent gang that committed ruthless murders and robberies, and trafficked in narcotics and illegal firearms.”
“In too many neighborhoods, young people are recruited into gangs and fall into a life of crime, drugs, and violence. Gang members have little regard for innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire and subject entire communities to intimidation and fear,” said John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Miami Office. “The success of this investigation would not have been possible without the assistance and cooperation of our law enforcement partners in South Florida.”
“Based on the hard work and dedication of the South Florida law enforcement community, these violent criminals were prosecuted and convicted. Our streets are safer now,” said Hugo Barrera, ATF Special Agent in Charge.
“These sentences should serve as a stern warning about the consequences awaiting gang members whose actions breed fear and violence in our communities,” said Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of ICE HSI in Miami. “ICE HSI will continue to work closely with its federal and local law enforcement counterparts to attack and dismantle these dangerous criminal organizations and see that those involved are brought to justice.”
As set forth in the Fourth Superseding Indictment and statements made during various guilty pleas and court hearings, Gonzalez was a leader of the “Krazy Locos,” also known as the “KL” gang, a group composed primarily of juvenile and young adult males, operating primarily in Palm Beach County, Florida. The Krazy Locos had been affiliated at times with another gang, the “Making Life Krazy” or “MLK” gang, which also operated in Palm Beach County. From 2007 through 2009, there were approximately forty Krazy Locos gang members and associates. As set forth in the Fourth Superseding Indictment and statements made during various guilty pleas and court hearings, Gonzalez was a leader of the “Krazy Locos,” also known as the “KL” gang, a group composed primarily of juvenile and young adult males, operating primarily in Palm Beach County, Florida. The Krazy Locos had been affiliated at times with another gang, the “Making Life Krazy” or “MLK” gang, which also operated in Palm Beach County. From 2007 through 2009, there were approximately forty Krazy Locos gang members and associates.
The Krazy Locos organization made money through the sale of controlled substances, primarily oxycodone, Xanax, methadone, cocaine, crack, and marijuana. With respect to the prescription medications (oxycodone, Xanax, and methadone), a Krazy Locos member would “sponsor” a patient, that is, pay for the patient’s medical visit and prescription, in exchange for a portion of the prescription medication. The gang would then re-sell the prescription medication. Members of the gang also were required to pay “taxes” to the gang on a weekly basis and often resorted to criminal activity to secure the money to pay their “taxes.”
In January 2009, Jonathan Gonzalez ordered a juvenile gang member, Manuel Medina, to murder Rolando Franco because Franco was trying to leave the Krazy Locos and Florida to start a new life. In February 2009, Jonathan Gonzalez ordered his brother, Christopher Gonzalez-Chamberlain, and two juvenile gang members, Medina and Alejandro Tomas, to participate in the home invasion-style robbery of an apartment in Lake Worth, Florida, that Gonzalez believed was used as a “stash” house by the 18th Street Gang. Instead, the small apartment was occupied by a family of five adults and seven children who were not involved in drug trafficking. Gonzalez-Chamberlain and Medina attempted to rob the house on February 22, 2009, but were startled to find Daniel Rivera sitting outside the house. Gonzalez-Chamberlain and Medina both fired shots, killing Daniel Rivera and wounding Angel Rivera. Tomas served as the getaway driver.
In April 2009, Gonzalez ordered Medina and Tomas to shoot up the home of another former Krazy Locos member. The two juveniles went to the home on April 18, 2009, firing several shots into the home. Gonzalez was angry that the two juveniles had not emptied the entire clip in the AK-47-style firearm, so he sent them back to the house on April 22, 2009 to finish the job. On that occasion, Medina fired the weapon into the air, causing damage to a number of homes in the area.
That evening, Gonzalez sold the firearm to an undercover officer as part of a joint federal/local investigation that eventually led to the arrest of Gonzalez and seven other Krazy Locos members and associates. During the undercover operation, undercover PBSO officers along with special agents from the FBI, ATF, and ICE recovered 24 firearms and over a thousand rounds of ammunition, along with a bulletproof vest and a grenade.
Gonzalez had pled guilty to Counts 1, 3, 4, 8, 10, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 26 of the Fourth Superseding Indictment, which charged conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, murder in aid of racketeering, attempted aggravated assault in aid of racketeering, carrying, brandishing, and discharging firearms during crimes of violence, conspiracy to transfer firearms to others for use in crimes of violence and drug trafficking, and felon in possession of firearms. Gonzalez was sentenced to life imprisonment plus a consecutive term of 1,620 months (135 years) in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. The judge ordered $58,476 in restitution.
Ivan Isidro Santiago had entered a guilty plea to Count 1 of the Fourth Superseding Indictment, which charged conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Santiago was separately charged as a juvenile for his role in the murder of Daniel Rivera and, as part of his plea in that case, agreed to dismiss his appeal to the Eleventh Circuit, and agreed to be sentenced as an adult for his role in the murders of Rolando Franco and Daniel Rivera and the shooting of Angel Rivera. Santiago was sentenced to 360 months (30 years) in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. The judge ordered $58,476 in restitution.
Gonzalez-Chamberlain pled guilty to Count 9 of the Fourth Superseding Indictment, which charged assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering. Gonzalez-Chamberlain was sentenced to 180 months (15 years) in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Restitution is to be determined at a later time.
Alejandro Tomas was sixteen years old at the time of his involvement in the murders of Rolando Franco and Daniel Rivera and the shootings of Angel Rivera and attempted shootings of another Krazy Locos member. He pled guilty to Counts 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 18, 19, 21, and 44 of the Third Superseding Indictment, which charged conspiracy to engage in Hobbs Act robbery, attempted Hobbs Act robbery, violent crimes in aid of racketeering, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, murder during the commission of a firearms offense, and distribution of controlled substances. Tomas was sentenced to 228 months (19 years) in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. The judge ordered $24,080 in restitution.
Itzel Candela-Campos, who was the girlfriend of Ivan Isidro Santiago, pled guilty to Count 35 of the Fourth Superseding Indictment, which charged conspiracy to use intimidation, threats, and corrupt persuasion to prevent the testimony of another, or to alter, destroy, or conceal objects needed in an official proceeding. Candela-Campos was sentenced to 40 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.
Medina, who was seventeen years old at the time of the charged offenses, was originally charged as a juvenile, and the United States filed a motion to transfer him to adult status. The motion was granted and the United States filed a Second Superseding Information, which charged Medina as an adult with his involvement in two homicides. On August 6, 2010, Medina entered a plea of guilty to all charges contained in the Second Superseding Information. Medina admitted that he was the person who shot and killed both Rolando Franco and Daniel Rivera upon the orders of Jonathan Gonzalez and that the killing of Rolando Franco was his initiation rite to enter the Krazy Locos. Today, Judge Marra re-sentenced Medina to 420 months (35 years) in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and $34,396 restitution.
U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer commends the success of the joint federal and state effort and thanks the State Attorney’s Office for Palm Beach County for its support throughout the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Ferrer also commends the efforts of the FBI, ATF, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, and ICE-HSI for their hard work in protecting our communities from gang violence. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys A. Marie Villafaña, Robert Waters, and Mark Dispoto.
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