Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

HAMMOND-Luis Allen Perez, 29, of East Chicago, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip  Simon to 300 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release following his guilty plea to conspiracy to commit racketeering activity as a member of the Imperial Gangsters, providing firearms to a felon, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.    

 According to documents in the case, Perez conspired to participate in racketeering activity as a member of the Imperial Gangsters street gang in East Chicago, Indiana.  At a contested sentencing hearing, Judge Simon found Perez responsible for the June 17, 2016, East Chicago murder of Manuel Martinez and the attempted murder of another individual in furtherance of racketeering activity in East Chicago.  In addition, in February 2016, Perez provided three firearms to a previously convicted felon in Hammond, Indiana.  In March 2016, in Hammond, Perez was arrested in possession of marijuana, which he intended to distribute, and another firearm.       

 This case is the result of the investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the East Chicago Police Department, the Hammond Police Department, and Lake County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area officers and agents.  This case is being prosecuted by Northern District of Indiana Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. Nozick and Caitlin M. Padula.

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