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* Press release…
U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Fardon and Other Law Enforcement Officials to Hold News Conference Today at 2:00 p.m.
U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Fardon, FBI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Anderson, Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie T. Johnson and other law enforcement officials will hold a news conference to announce significant new indictments. The news conference will begin at 2:00 p.m. in the 9th Floor Press Room of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Dirksen Federal Building, 219 S. Dearborn, Chicago IL 60604. Media credentials will be required to access the Press Room, which will be open beginning at 1:15 p.m.
WHO: Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois
Michael J. Anderson, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the FBI
Eddie T. Johnson, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department
Several other law enforcement officials from the Chicago area and IndianaWHAT: The officials will announce significant new indictments against numerous alleged gang members.
WHERE: U.S. Attorney’s Office
9th Floor Press Room
Dirksen Federal Building
219 S. Dearborn, Chicago IL 60604WHEN: Tuesday, July 26, 2016, 2:00 p.m.
*** UPDATE *** Here you go…
Thirty Four Alleged Gang Members Charged with Participating in Racketeering Conspiracy Involving Guns, Assaults and Attempted Murders in Chicago and Suburbs
CHICAGO — Two federal indictments unsealed in Chicago today charged 34 members of the Latin Kings street gang with participating in a criminal organization that assaults and attempts to murder its rivals and violently protects its territories in the city and suburbs.
Authorities uncovered the alleged gang activity through dual investigations conducted under the umbrella of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). During the course of the multi-year probes, law enforcement agents confiscated more than 40 firearms, including two AR-15 assault rifles.
The indictments allege that members of the Latin Kings violently enforced discipline within its ranks and retaliated against rivals and former members to prevent cooperation with law enforcement. Its members and associates engaged in various acts of violence, including murder, attempted murder, assault with dangerous weapons, arson, and extortion, according to the indictments. The charges include the attempted murders of rival gang members and a Melrose Park Police officer.
Thirty four alleged Latin Kings are charged with racketeering conspiracy. A 35th alleged Latin King is charged in the indictment with selling a firearm without a license. The 36th and final defendant is an alleged Latin King charged in a criminal complaint with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Several of the defendants were arrested this week and have begun making initial appearances in federal court in Chicago.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 12:14 pm
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This is the Zachary T. Fardon we expected!
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 12:21 pm
Drug indictments just don’t matter. The predicate for a War on Drugs is the criminalization of adult, consensual behavior. Once declared, drug prohibitionviolence is unstoppable by law enforcement and the criminal justice system. Better to LEGALIZE ALL DRUGS to stop violent crime, restore public order and heal the public health, safety and welfare.
Comment by Jim Gierach Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 12:40 pm
Maybe Barack read Capitol Fax a few days ago when Rich said he was disappointed that he didn’t do more for Chicago.
Comment by A Jack Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 12:42 pm
This on the front end, what’s coming on the back end (schools, services, etc.)?
Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 12:45 pm
Force and being an occuping force will mot fix the problems with gangs. we need better social reforms and socioeconomic solutions. This kind of stuff does nothing or inflames the problem. The British tried this approach many times…. they have lost a lot of territory as strong enforcement is not a fix to social peoblems
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 12:48 pm
So G takes down the older upper levels of the gangs. The younger, hot headed types move up the ladder. Raises the prospect for increased gang violence as the new leaders flex their new power.
This reminds me of a story I read about wolf hunts out west. Biologists were studying increased livestock predation after a wolf hunt. They found was that it was the older wolves that were shot. As a result, the younger wolves went after the livestock because they really didn’t know better.
Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 12:57 pm
==Drug indictments just don’t matter==
Ok… but they’re filing charges for murder, attempted murder of a police officer, beatings, etc.
Petty drug offenses don’t matter, on this we agree. But a large scale, fed-state-local investigation that last years and can take down an entire organizational hierarchy DOES matter.
Even if it is just short-term relief, don’t try to tell me this doesn’t matter to the people who live in Hegewisch and the Avenues.
Comment by Jimmy CrackCorn Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 1:04 pm
Fed’s quit wasting your time on white collar crime. Go after the west and south side gangs.
Fed’s to announce indictments of gang members.
Oh this won’t do any good.
Geez make up your mind!!
Comment by Leave a Light on George Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 1:13 pm
If nothing else this might quell the violence. If a few less innocent bystanders get shot, it is good for society. It is also good for the Democrats who don’t want to look weak on crime right now. Donald “I Am The Law” Trump has made it a campaign issue.
Comment by A Jack Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 1:40 pm
Maybe a plan to get these guys off the street and keep them busy so they’re not shooting each other?
Comment by Belle Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 1:57 pm
It would be interesting to know how many FBI, ATF, DEA and DOJ resources are devoted to fighting the Chicago street gangs causing most of the murders.
One of Trump’s inferences is that it’s time for a “surge” using Federal resources to take down these gangs and end the killing.
How come we don’t hear much about the State’s attorney and IBI bringing these murderer’s down?
Comment by Illinois Bob Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 2:03 pm
Aren’t Murder ands many of these crimes int he state’s jurisdiction? Where’s the Cook County State’s attorney and Dart on this?
Comment by Illinois Bob Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 2:12 pm
I agree with the need for social programs but these are murderers. We can’t leave our heads in the sand and say if we all just sing kumbaya and make nice, then all the violence will stop. This requires BOTH toolboxes.
Comment by domer84 Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 2:13 pm
This is good news.
Comment by Saluki Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 2:15 pm
Illinois Bob you don’t hear about the IBI because there hasn’t been an IBI agency for about 40 years.
Try and keep up.
Comment by Leave a Light on George Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 2:23 pm
Not a drug indictment in the bunch.. Darn fed’s are going soft on crime.
Comment by Leave a Light on George Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 2:26 pm
Bad news for the LKs, good news for the Gangster Disciples.
When was the last time a CVS manager was gunned down by a Walgreens employee? Oh yeah they sell legal drugs including alcohol peacefully. I agree w Jim Gierach, legalize drugs and much of the violence will decrease and gang revenues will go down. The bigger problem is how do you replace the economic infrastructure that drug sales bring to impoverished neighborhoods?
Comment by frisbee Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 2:29 pm
Jim Gierach and frisbee, would you back state distribution of the less damaging drugs through State owned and managed stores? That can provide some quality control while reducing the volume of cash and profit from illegal drugs.
I strongly oppose any form of legalization that provides a financial incentive to create addicts and the ability to develop marketing campaigns to boost sales.
Some drugs are too dangerous to sell. Legalizing them is like approving the sale of adulterated food.
Switching gears, do we know if any of the 36 people indicted are in the country illegally? Given the Trump emphasis on Law and Order and anti-illegal-immigrant, this could become a part of the campaign.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 2:56 pm
Good start. This should scare the snot out of them. Now only 13,966 bangers to go
Comment by proudstatetrooper Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 3:04 pm
Sanctuary cities!
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 3:06 pm
Keep the light on George @2:23 - you caught this and commented before I got back to the site.
Good work!
Comment by illini Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 3:09 pm
enough with the criticism of front end action and going after gangs and guns. these are not users. these are people intent on murder, arson and extortion. jeez.
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 3:22 pm
No mug shots? Bummer. Love me some good face tattoos
Comment by Longsummer Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 3:23 pm
- Jim Gierach - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 12:40 pm:
“Better to LEGALIZE ALL DRUGS to stop violent crime, restore public order and heal the public health, safety and welfare.”
LEGALIZE ALL DRUGS? I don’t think that will heal public health or safety or welfare.
Comment by Mama Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 3:28 pm
These indictments of course are for a different gang enterprise, but can’t help but remember the sketchy Duckworth tweet we saw here last week that lied about Kirk’s words in his call for mass arrests of gang bangers after the Pendleton killing. Bad timing there, Tammy and Matt.
Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 4:01 pm
Jim Gierach is correct.
Drug use is much much much lower in Europe where most drug use is considered a health problem.
Last Bull and Mama … I have lost relatives to heroin.
If you think laws will keep addicts from drugs … You are mistaken.
keep drinkin’ the koolaid.
Comment by gg Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 4:07 pm
gg-Sorry for your loss. My daughter lost a classmate to heroin her senior year inn high school. It is a wide spread scourge.
I think my approach, which would include treating heroin addiction as a medical problem, would create fewer addicts and fewer deaths than either the current system or full legalization. Take away the economic incentive to create addicts and there will be fewer addicts created.
Once a person is addicted, recovery is hard and does not always happen. Again, sorry for your loss.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 4:21 pm
@ LBM i would support state production and distribution of all drugs, even alcohol. New Hampshire, British Columbia and a few other places i believe already do it with alcohol.
The Swiss heroin maintenance program is exactly what you are proposign/suggesting and has proven to be successful at reducing the harms associated with opioid addiction. http://www.journalofsubstanceabusetreatment.com/article/S0740-5472(99)00046-X/pdf
Comment by frisbee Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 4:55 pm
Sorry the above link is a criticism of the data of the Swiss program, here is a link to an overview article about the Swiss program http://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1926160,00.html
Comment by frisbee Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 5:00 pm
frisbee, thanks for the links.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 5:51 pm
Be interesting to know the rank of these members they have. Are these older members that have real knowledge of the gang or are they lower level guys trying to make a name and got caught by the Feds?
Great to get some of the street, maybe the others will lay low awhile and reduce their public profile, and some of the other gangs will too. Maybe the next week will be quieter.
I noted they advertised two AR15’s were confiscated, what about the M16’s and grenades stolen from the NG Armory? The grenades may have already been used, but M16’s were never recovered as I understand.
Comment by FormerParatrooper Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 6:34 pm
It’s great to hear the discussion. I’m a former drug and homicide prosecutor in Chicago in the early 1970s. When the War on Drugs was declared in 1971, the best heroin was 2% pure (Mexican mud, “black tar”). NOW 90% pure heroin is everywhere. 46 years of experience has taught me that everything works in reverse with drug policy. The harder we try to suppress drugs (increasing prices), the more they flourish. Roughly, 63% of federal prisoners and 25% of state prisoners, are in for drugs. Prohibition, not drugs, causes the murders. That’s why the new set of indictments are meaningless to safer streets. Murder needs to be prosecuted but we have to realize it will not afford two minutes of peace. I’ve spent much of a lifetime trying to end the War on Drugs. Much can be learned from my blog. GIERACH BLOGS.
Comment by Jim Gierach Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 1:15 am