17 Members and Associates of Violent Gang Indicted

WASHINGTON – A federal grand jury in Lubbock, Texas, has charged 17 members and associates of the violent gang known as the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (ALKQN) with various charges related to their alleged narcotics and weapons trafficking violations, a well as a variety of alleged violent crimes throughout Texas, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Rita M. Glavin and Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas James T. Jacks announced today. Four of the 17 defendants were arrested last night and today in Lubbock, Midland, Big Spring, and Mission, Texas, as well as in Chicago. Eleven defendants are already in federal or state custody on related and unrelated charges. Two are considered fugitives. The defendants arrested today will make their initial appearance in Abilene, Texas, before U.S. Magistrate Philip R. Lane, on Friday, Feb. 27, 2009. The 11-count indictment, returned earlier this month and unsealed today, charges each of the defendants with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana. Three defendants are also charged with conspiring to deal in firearms. The indictment also includes drug distribution charges and various firearms charges, including using and carrying a firearm to commit murder during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. "The message this indictment sends not just to these defendants but to those who support and participate in gangs is that with the cooperation of our law enforcement partners at the federal, state and local level, we will work tirelessly to protect our communities and punish those who seek to corrupt them through violence and gun and drug trafficking," said Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Rita M. Glavin. Acting U.S. Attorney Jacks said, "Regardless of what dramatic name they attached to their group, criminal gangs are just that – criminals. Like most criminals, their illegal activities of drug dealing and engaging in violent crime are a cancer on our communities; communities comprised of honest, hard working people who are simply trying to earn a living, raise their families and live in peace. As evidenced by this action, law enforcement is committed to removing that cancer through determined investigative effort and the cooperation of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies as was done in this case. All of these agencies, with the help and support of the community, will continue to pursue these groups until they are no longer a part of our environment." The defendants arrested today are: Jesus Martinez, a/k/a Solid, 28, of Midland John Guzman, 30, of Big Spring Hiluterio Chavez, a/k/a Zeus, 33, of Chicago Eliseo Perez, a/k/a Wicked, 28, of Mission, Texas was arrested Wednesday night. Defendants indicted but not yet arrested are: Guerrero Olivas, a/k/a Screech, 26, of Big Spring Michael Conde, a/k/a Psycho, 21, of Lubbock Defendants previously arrested include: Jose Robledo Nava, a/k/a Chino, 30, of Lubbock Luis Nava, a/k/a Flaco, 25, of Midland Reynaldo Nava, a/k/a Rat, 27, of Big Spring Robert Allen Ramirez, a/k/a Nesyo, 27, of Big Spring Marie Chavez, a/k/a Shorty, 28, of Lubbock Carol Ann Rivas Nava, 20, of Big Spring Cecily Dominique Juarez, 20, of Midland James Jonathan Cole, a/k/a Blitz, 19, of Lamesa, Texas Eduardo Daniel Mares, a/k/a Pitt, 21, of Seminole, Texas Gabriel Lee Gonzales, 21, of Fort Stockton, Texas David Hellums, a/k/a CutThroat, 35, of Big Spring The indictment alleges that from 2001 until Dec. 13, 2008, when six of the defendants were arrested, the defendants, as members of the ALKQN, conspired to distribute multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine and marijuana throughout Texas and elsewhere. They acquired, packaged, stored, and transported the cocaine and marijuana, and according to court documents filed in the case, imported the narcotics from Mexico into the South Texas region, and then on to Big Spring, Lubbock, and Midland for fur