Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

HAMMOND-Pierre Forest, 25, of Harvey, Illinois, and a member of the Chicago-based Latin Kings street gang, was sentenced by Judge Simon to 216 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release following his guilty plea to conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.

“Pierre Forest, a Latin King Gang Member, was held accountable for his role in a senseless murder and will now spend 18 years behind bars. He was also involved in putting firearms and illegal drugs on our Northwest Indiana streets,” said Thomas L. Kirsch II. “Our well-coordinated law enforcement teams will continue to focus on fighting violent, senseless crimes like these.”

According to documents in the case, Forest trafficked firearms and was involved in the distribution of cocaine and marijuana in Hammond and East Chicago, Indiana, as a member of the Latin Kings street gang including participating in the July 2015 armed robbery of firearms from members of rival gangs. At a contested sentencing hearing, the court found Forest responsible for his role in the murder of Travis Nash, who was shot and killed by the Latin Kings on July 18, 2011, in Hammond, Indiana. Forest has a prior felony conviction for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.

“Today’s sentence sends a clear message that the FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to work diligently to disrupt and dismantle these gangs and rid our streets of these violent criminals and the violence associated with their activities,” said Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan, FBI Indianapolis. “The residents of neighborhoods these gangs have impacted through drug dealing and violence deserve to be able to peacefully go about their daily lives without fear.”

“ATF will aggressively investigate those who illegally traffic in firearms, as it threatens the safety of the whole community,” remarked the ATF Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Division Kristen de Tineo. “We will continue to work closely with our local and federal law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s office to bring these offenders to justice.”

This case is the result of the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the East Chicago Police Department, the Gary Police Department, the Hammond Police Department, the Lake County, Indiana, Sheriff’s Department and Lake County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area officers and agents. The Lake County Prosecutor’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Illinois, have also provided assistance. The Latin King case is being prosecuted by Northern District of Indiana Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. Nozick and Nicholas J. Padilla.

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