Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Latin Kings Indicted
HAMMOND – United States Attorney David Capp announced federal racketeering charges against 9 additional members of the Latin Kings, a criminal enterprise doing business in Chicago and northwest Indiana. Named in this indictment are:
Reynaldo Robles a/k/a “Sneaky,” 24, of Portage;
Nicholas Baez a/k/a “Cali,” 22, of Whiting;
Antonio Gamino a/k/a “Stacks,” 19, of Griffith;
Efren DelAngel a/k/a “Payoso,” 21, of Hammond;
Mark Anthony Toney a/k/a “Slim,” 37, of Lake Village;
William Dennis Salazar, 40, of Hammond;
Darrick Vallodolid, 27, of Hobart;
Robert Nieto a/k/a “Cowboy,” 42, of Gary;
Peter Salinas a/k/a “Pudge,” 30, of Hammond
These 9 individuals were added to the existing Latin King indictment pending in the Northern District of Indiana that had previously charged 17 members or associates of the Latin Kings. Each of the persons named today are charged with a conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity and with a conspiracy to distribute narcotics.
Today’s indictment also details two previously uncharged murders as alleged overt acts in the racketeering conspiracy. On July 18, 2011, Travis Nash was shot and killed in Hammond. The indictment alleges that Reynaldo Robles, acting at the direction of Aldon Perez (indicted previously), shot and killed Nash, believing him to be a rival gang member. The indictment also alleges that on August 14, 2014, Keith Trevor Manuel and Joseph Uvalle (both indicted previously) demanded that members of the Latin Kings take action against Estrella’s Bar in Hammond, Indiana, as the owner of Estrella’s Bar was allowing rival gang members to patronize the bar. It is alleged that Uvalle drove Nicholas Baez and Antonio Gamino to the bar and handed Baez a firearm. Baez shot into the bar, striking and killing Raudel Contreras, while Gamino served as a lookout.
The previous Latin King indictment had charged Anton James with murder in aid of racketeering for his alleged role in the murder of Martin Hurtado Sr. The indictment alleges that, on Oct. 28, 2014, James shot and killed Hurtado Sr. in Hammond believing that he was Martin Hurtado Jr., whom James believed was a rival gang member. This count carries over unchanged from the previous indictment.
The previous Latin King indictment had charged Joseph Uvalle with sex trafficking offenses, and this indictment carries those charges over unchanged from the previous indictment.
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.
This case is the result of the investigative efforts of 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 also has provided assistance. The Latin King case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. Nozick, Dean Lanter and Abizer Zanzi of the Northern District of Indiana.
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