Jury Convicts U.S. Latin King Leaders

 CHICAGO, IL - A federal jury in Chicago convicted the top U.S. leader and three other key people of the Latin Kings gang of racketeering conspiracy and other related charges.

Convicted this week were Augustin Zambrano, the highest-ranking leader nationwide; Vicente Garcia, identified as the one in charge of Latin Kings in Illinois; Jose Guzman, a former "nation enforcer" of one faction; and Alphonso Chavez, identified as the leader of the another gang faction, the U.S. Justice Department said.

The four were convicted of racketeering conspiracy and charges involving narcotics trafficking and related violence that permeated neighborhoods on the Chicago's north, south and west sides, U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald said.

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

The Latin Kings gang has about 10,000 members in Illinois alone, the Justice Department said.