Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

HAMMOND-Jeremiah Farmer, 39, of Hammond, Indiana, and a member of various Indiana factions of the Chicago-based Latin Kings, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Philip P. Simon to life in prison following his conviction at trial in July 2019 of conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine, marijuana, and alprazolam, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.

At trial, the jury found that, as part of the racketeering conspiracy, on June 25, 1999, Farmer murdered Marion Lowry, 74, and Harvey Siegers, 67, by beating each to death with a hammer at their Hammond business, Calumet Auto Rebuilders.  The jury also found that Farmer conspired to distribute or possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine as part of the racketeering conspiracy.  The jury also found that Farmer conspired to distribute or possess with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana as part of the drug conspiracy.

Approximately 43 defendants have been charged with racketeering conspiracy as members of the Latin Kings in a criminal conspiracy extending back to 1999.  The racketeering conspiracy charge alleges that gang members and associates were participants in a racketeering conspiracy that involved murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, sex trafficking, and narcotics distribution. 

"The defendant terrorized the community through his violent actions and today’s sentence ensures an extremely dangerous individual has been taken off the streets,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan. “This is an example of how the collective efforts of the FBI and our law enforcement partners impact crime in our neighborhoods and remain a top priority.”

“This defendant is responsible for terrorizing the community of Hammond with narcotics trafficking and violence,” remarked ATF Special Agent in Charge Kristen de Tineo of the Chicago Field Division. “Strong law enforcement partnerships among local, state and federal agencies allow us to focus on the most violent offenders.”

The investigation was conducted under the OCDETF program, a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  The principal mission of OCDETF is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, and money laundering organizations.

The agencies involved in these investigative efforts are the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the East Chicago Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 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, has also provided assistance.  The Latin King case was prosecuted by Northern District of Indiana Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. Nozick and Nicholas J. Padilla.

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