An alleged member of Chicago’s criminal street gang, the
Latin Dragons, has been charged with murder in aid of racketeering, announced
Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Blanco of the Justice Department’s
Criminal Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Clifford D. Johnson for the Northern
District of Indiana.
According to the criminal complaint, filed yesterday, Manuel
Diaz, 26, of Hammond, Indiana, is a member of the Latin Dragons, a criminal
gang whose members engage in acts of violence, including murder, attempted
murder, robbery, kidnapping and assault, to protect the gang’s territory and
drug operations. Latin Dragons gang
members are required by gang rules to take immediate violent action against
anyone who threatens them, and gain respect and status within the gang by doing
so.
According to the allegations, on Sept. 30, Diaz engaged in a
brief confrontation with the driver of an SUV at a local gas station, during
which Diaz’s passenger flashed gang signs at occupants of the SUV and the
driver of the SUV displayed a semi-automatic handgun to Diaz. After Diaz and the SUV left the gas station
parking lot, Diaz pursued the SUV in his vehicle. A third car, traveling with the SUV,
intervened and refused to allow Diaz’s vehicle to pass. According to the allegations, Diaz retrieved
a revolver from under the driver’s seat of his vehicle and fired one shot into
the third car, striking the driver in the head and killing him.
This case is the result of the investigative efforts of the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, the Hammond
Police Department, the East Chicago Police Department, along with the Chicago
and Calumet City, Illinois Police. The case is being prosecuted by Trial
Attorney Joseph A. Cooley of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang
Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Nozick.
A complaint is merely an allegation and all persons charged
are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment