United States Attorney David Capp

Northern District of Indiana

5400 Federal Plaza, Suite 1500

Hammond, Indiana 46320

Hammond South Bend Fort Wayne

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Mary Hatton

November 9, 2012 PHONE: (219) 937-5603

www.usdoj.gov/usao/inn/ FAX (219) 852-2770

EIGHT ADDITIONAL DEFENDANTS CHARGED IN MAJOR STREET GANG RICO CONSPIRACY

Hammond, Indiana - United States Attorney David Capp announced a Third Superseding Indictment charging eight additional individuals alleged to be members of the Imperial Gangsters street gang in a forty-one count indictment unsealed today.

United States Attorney Capp stated, “With this indictment we have now charged 23 members of the Imperial Gangsters. The indictments allege 12 murders and 8 attempted murders. The Imperial Gangsters is an ongoing criminal enterprise and we will continue our efforts until all members are off the streets. ”

Count 1 charges the following new defendants with Conspiracy to Participate in Racketeering Activity and Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and Distribute Five Kilograms or more of Cocaine and 100 Kilograms or more of Marijuana:

- Salvador Chavez, 33, of Chicago, Illinois

- Raymond Campos, 28, of East Chicago, Indiana

- Ace Cortez, 33, of East Chicago, Indiana

- Julian Guillermo Serna, 23, of Munster, Indiana

- Julius Solis, 23, of East Chicago, Indiana

- Darmaile Cortez Sutton, 29, of East Chicago, Indiana

- Eddie Torres, 42, of East Chicago, Indiana

- Richard Reyes, 40, East Chicago, Indiana

The following individuals were previously indicted and the charges remain pending:

- Juan Briseno

- Justin Weaver

- Michael Anthony Castillo

- Jason Medina

- Edward Raye Serna

- Robert Lockhart

- Armando Jose Velasquez

- Anthony Baldazo

This conspiracy count alleges that the Imperial Gangsters committed these offenses from 2002 to 2012.

Today’s indictment alleges five additional homicides that were not alleged in previous indictments:

- The homicide of Anuar David Paez on or about July 24, 2004, in East Chicago allegedly committed by Ace Cortez

- The homicide of Guadalupe Trevino on or about July 24, 2005, in Gary allegedly committed by Jason Medina

- The homicide of Rene Alonzo on or about September 16, 2007, in East Chicago allegedly committed by Richard Reyes

- The homicide of Luis Ortiz on or about September 26, 2007, in Hammond allegedly committed by Juan Briseno

- The homicide of Mario Soriano on or about March 25, 2008, in Hammond allegedly committed by Julian Guillermo

The indictment also alleges four additional attempted homicides that were not previously charged:

- Juan Briseno attempted to murder three individuals on or about June 3, 2008, on February 20, 2009 and on August 2, 2009

- Julius Solis attempted to murder an individual on or about March 28, 2009

Seven persons who were previously indicted have entered guilty pleas. Those are:

- Galo Benjamin Feliciano

- Guillermo Briseno

- Alejandro Balboa Lara

- Kevin Beltran

- David Almaraz

- Joseph Rene Torres

- Alejandro Briseno

This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the East Chicago Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Gary Police Department, the Hammond Police Department and the Lake County HIDTA. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David J. Nozick.

The United States Attorney's Office emphasized that an Indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

If convicted in court, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.