U.S. Department of Justice

                                                                                    United States Attorney

                                                                                    Northern District of Indiana

                                                                                                                              5400 Federal Plaza, Suite 1500                                                (219) 937- 5500

                                                                                                                              Hammond, Indiana 46320                                          FAX: (219) 852- 2770

TTD: (219) 933- 1250

                                                                                                     April 19, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Released By: Joseph S. Van Bokkelen

                  United States Attorney

                  Northern District of Indiana

                  5400 Federal Plaza, Suite 1500

                  Hammond, Indiana 46320

                  219/937-5500

Contact Person: Gary Bell

                  Assistant United States Attorney

PRESS RELEASE

DEFENDANT SENTENCED JOHNNY MARTINEZ was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge James T. Moody to 210 months imprisonment, 3 years supervised release, and $70,000 restitution to Safeco Insurance.

          MARTINEZ, age 28, of Gary, Indiana, pled guilty to the indictment on February 8, 2002. He was charged with racketeering, conspiracy to commit rackeering, and dealing marijuana with 5 other Latin King members in September 2001. MARTINEZ was the leader of the Gary Latin Kings, which was located in the Black Oak section of Gary. Gang members committed numerous violent acts (drive-by shootings), possessed a large cache of weapons, and sold drugs to support the gang.

          MARTINEZ pled guilty to committing racketeering acts that included 2 attempted murders, arson of a residence and dealing marijuana. MARTINEZ was the "Cacinque" of the Latin Kings, which means he was second-in-command. The Gary Kings had about 20 active members at the time of the indictment. MARTINEZ ordered younger gang members to commit drive-by shootings, burn a residence with Molotov cocktails, and deal marijuana.

          The 5 co-defendants have already been sentenced to various terms ranging from probation to 25 years in prison. At least 3 other Gary Kings were charged and convicted in federal court for drug-related crimes. Co-defendants Rudy Pena and Robert Serrano received 25 years for their role in the drive-by shooting that resulted in the killing of 3-year-old Haley Finch, who was sleeping in a house located in Black Oak. Pena and Serrano thought rival gang members lived in the Finch household.

          The OCDETF-designated case was investigated by the Gary Response Investigative Team (GRIT) and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gary Bell. 

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