A member of the Latin Kings street gang and two associates have been sentenced to federal prison for racketeering conspiracy and other crimes in support of the gang, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana said.

David Lira, aka “Flaco,” 39, of Chicago, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty in July to racketeering conspiracy. Gang associates Bianca Fernandez, 23, and Serina Arambula, 23, both of Chicago, were sentenced respectively to 36 months and 21 months.

Fernandez pleaded guilty in August to conspiring to murder in aid of racketeering; Arambula, to withholding information on a murder.

“According to the third superseding indictment filed in this case, the Latin Kings is a nationwide gang that originated in Chicago and has branched out throughout the United States,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. “The Latin Kings is a well organized street gang that has specific leadership and is composed of regions that include multiple chapters. The third superseding indictment charges that the Latin Kings were responsible for more than 20 murders.”

“Also according to the third superseding indictment, the Latin Kings enforces its rules and promotes discipline among its members, prospects and associates through murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, assault and threats against those who violate the rules or pose a threat to the Latin Kings,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office added. “Members are required to follow the orders of higher-ranking members, including taking on assignments often referred to as ‘missions.’”

During his guilty plea proceeding, Lira admitted to being a Latin Kings member at an early age. He also acknowledged he was aware that the Latin Kings, specifically some of his co-defendants, distributed more than 150 kilograms of cocaine and 1,000 kilograms of marijuana over the course of the racketeering conspiracy.

Lira also acknowledged that on Feb. 24, 2007, Jose Zambrano, a regional enforcer for the gang, and other Latin Kings members dropped two firearms off at Lira’s residence in Lansing, Ill. The next evening, Zambrano and the others returned to retrieve the weapons from Lira before riding to the Soprano’s Bar in Griffith, Ind., where they gunned down and killed two rival gang members.

Fernandez admitted in court that on Nov. 26, 2006, at the direction of a Latin Kings member, she accompanied two members of the rival Latin Dragons gang to Jackson Park, Ill., near La Rabida Children’s Hospital on the south side of Chicago. Fernandez also admitted she made arrangements for Latin Kings gang members to meet them at the location, where those gang members shot the Latin Dragons gang members, killing one. Fernandez admitted that when interviewed by Chicago Police, she concealed the true nature of the murder.

During her guilty plea proceeding, Arambula admitted to accompanying Fernandez and the Latin Dragon members to Jackson Park and admitted to providing false information to Chicago Police regarding the identity of the shooters.

Twenty-three Latin Kings members and associates have been indicted in this case. Twenty have pleaded guilty; one was found guilty following a jury trial; one awaits trial; and one remains a fugitive.

This case was investigated by the FBI; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; ICE Homeland Security Investigations; the National Gang Intelligence Center; the Chicago Police Department; the Houston Police Department; the Griffith Police Department; the Highland Police Department; the Hammond Police Department; and the East Chicago Police Department.

Posted 11/20/2012