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: Clarence Butler

                 Assistant United States Attorney

PRESS RELEASE

DEFENDANTS SENTENCED     EVERARDO “LITTLEMAN” AVILA was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment and one year supervised release on his conviction of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and aiding and abetting by United States District Judge Theresa L. Springmann. AVILA, age 30, of Hammond, Indiana was indicted along with 13 other individuals alleged to be members and/or associates of the 148^th Street Latin Kings criminal street gang on various drug and firearms violations. ROSALLO “FLINTSTONE” CORTEZ, age 22, also of Hammond, was sentenced to 46 months imprisonment and 2 years supervised release for conspiracy. JOSE ANGEL SHORTY RODRIGUEZ, age 21, of Highland, Indiana, was sentenced to 78 months imprisonment and 3 years supervised release for conspiracy.

    The indictment was returned in September 2003 and was the result of a year-long investigation, named “King Havoc”, by the Northwest Indiana Gang Task Force. This task force is comprised of local law enforcement officers, state police, and federal agents.

     All fourteen defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit certain federal drug offenses including possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846. The indictment alleged that in furtherance of the conspiracy, the defendants as members of the 148^th Street Latin Kings, engaged in acts of violence and intimidation as a means of protecting their territory in furtherance of the distribution of controlled substances. The defendants were charged individually with various drug and firearms violations.

    United States Attorney Joseph S. Van Bokkelen thanked the Northwest Indiana Gang Task Force and specifically the following law enforcement agencies for participating in this investigation: the Hammond, Indiana Police Department; Indiana State Police; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Clarence Butler.

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