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August 24, 2004
13 More Arrested in On-Going Probe of
Drug and Gang Activity in Humboldt Park
Thomas J. Kneir, Special Agent in Charge of
the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Philip
J. Cline, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department (CPD) announced
today the arrest of 13 more individuals as part of an on-going investigation
into the sale of illegal narcotics in the Humboldt Park area of Chicago, by
known and suspected members of the Latin Kings street gang. The arrests were
made, without incident, at various times during the past 10 days by FBI
Special Agents and CPD Officers and Detectives assigned to the FBI's Joint
Task Force on Gangs (JTFG) who conducted this investigation.
All of those arrested were charged in criminal complaints filed in U.S.
District Court in Chicago with either Possession of a Controlled Substance
with Intent to Distribute or Conspiracy, both of which are felony offenses.
According to the complaints, all of those charged are alleged to be members
or associates of the Latin Kings street gang, who managed and controlled the
distribution of crack cocaine on the near northwest side of Chicago for the
past several years. The charges announced today are a continuation of a JTFG
investigation which to date, has resulted in the arrest of 45 suspected gang
members in the past 18 months.
In announcing these arrests, Mr. Kneir said, "The charges announced today
should send a clear message to the residents of Chicago that the FBI and our
law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively investigate street
gangs, and the violence associated with their activities, which bring pain
and suffering to so many innocent citizens."
All of those arrested, who are identified below, have had their initial
appearance in U.S. District Court and have either been ordered held without
bond or been given a secured release, pending their next scheduled court
appearance. If convicted of the charges against them, they each face a
possible sentence of up to 20 years incarceration.
Those arrested are identified as:
1. Michael Carrasquillo, age 25, 3534 West Beach, Chicago.
2. Felix Figuerora, age 29, 3265 West Wabansia, Chicago.
3. Francisco Periche-Guillen, age 42, 1907 North Albany, Chicago.
4. Anthony Gonzalez, age 24, 5336 West Parker, Chicago.
5. Rene Hermosillo, age 26, 518 Gilbert in Woodale.
6. Jose Lozada, age 30, 3334 West Potomac, Chicago.
7. Wanda Mendez, age 34, 3111 West Lyndale, Chicago.
8. Josue Muriel, age 30, 1911 North Whipple, Chicago.
9. William Ortiz, age 40, 1814 North Kedzie, Chicago.
10. Tomas Ortiz, age 32, 1054 North Spaulding, Chicago.
11. Eduardo Perez, age 35, 1711 North Kedzie, Chicago.
12. Luis Fargas Power, age 41, 4228 West Potomac, Chicago.
13. Luis Rodriguez, age 25, 3334 West Beach, Chicago.
Prosecution of this matter has been handled by the United States Attorney's
Office in Chicago, under the direction of Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United
States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.
The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that
all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty
in a court of law.
EDITOR's NOTE: A copy of the complaints filed in this case are available
from the Chicago FBI Press Office at (312) 786-2645.
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