Four high-ranking Latin Kings street gang leaders

Four high-ranking Latin Kings street gang leaders - including the highest-ranking leader nationwide - were convicted on Wednesday in a racketeering conspiracy that involved drug trafficking and violence that plagued several Chicago neighborhoods, federal authorities said.

Among the defendants convicted was Augstin Zambrano, 51, identified in the six-week federal trial as the "Corona," the highest-ranking leader of the Almighty Latin King Nation, responsible for overseeing the illegal activites of all factions of the powerful street gang, a release from the U.S. Attorney's office said.

Zambrano and three co-defendants were found guilty of running a criminal enterprise to enrich themselves and others through drug trafficking and preserving and protecting their power, territory and revenue through acts of murder, attempted murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, extortion and other acts of violence, the release said.

Zambrano is already serving a ilfe sentence that was imposed in 2000 for running a continuing criminal enterprise.

Also convicted were 33-year-old Vicente Garcia, who was in charge of all Latin Kings in Illinois; Jose Guzman, 34, known as a former "National Enforcer' in the Little Village faction; and Alphonso Chavez, 26, the leader of the gang's 31st and Drake faction.

The four were among a total of 31 co-defendants who were indicted in Sept. 2008 or charged in a superceding indictment in Oct. 2009. Of those 31, 24 pleaded guilty, four were convicted at trial and three remain fugitives. Three of the defendants who pleaded guilty testified as government witness at the trial, the release said.

The RICO conspiracy count included evidence that Zambrano and several co-defendants conspired to demand and receive payment from the organization by illegally selling fraudulent immigration documents in Little Village by threatening and using violence against members of that organiztion unless the defendant received regular cash payments, the release said.

Trial evidence proved federal charges that Latin Kings leaders extorted "street tax" from non-gang members, referred to as "miqueros," who sold false ID documents.

As part of the conspiracy, evidence also showed that defendants kept victims in fear of the gang and its leaders by enforcing what it referred to as an "SOS" — shoot on sight or smash on sight — order against Latin King members who cooperated with law enforcement in order to enforce the gang's grip on the community and control over its members, the release said.

All four remain in federal custody and face lengthy prison terms without parole. U.S. District Judge Charles Norgle scheduled sentencing for Zambrano on Aug. 23 and set sentencing for the three others between Aug. 24 and the 26th.

The RICO conspiracy, extortion conspiracy and assault with a dangerous weapon counts each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Garcia was convicted of using a firearm during a violent crime, which carries a maximum minimum of 10 years in prison to a maximum of life.

The various narcotics counts carry sentences ranging from a mandatory minimum 5 years to a maximum of life and a fine up to $4 million.