Hammond man, another Latin Kings member, pleads guilty

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Updated: March 19, 2012 8:05AM

A Hammond man admitted Friday to taking part as a member of the Latin Kings street gang in a racketeering conspiracy that trafficked thousands of pounds of drugs and killed 19 people.

Victor Meza Jr., 23, faces a minimum of 10 years to a maximum of life in prison after pleading guilty to one count each of conspiracy to racketeer and conspiracy to traffic more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and 150 kilograms of cocaine.

He entered the plea Friday afternoon in the U.S. District Court in Hammond.

Meza was charged last fall along with 22 other defendants in the case, which accused the defendants, most of whom are alleged to be members of the Latin Kings, of running the criminal organization since the 1980s.

Several defendants were charged with the shooting deaths of two rival gang members outside a Griffith restaurant in February 2007. Two defendants, including Highland resident Alexander Vargas, have already pleaded guilty to those and other charges.

Two former Chicago police officers were also accused of using their badges to help steal guns, money and drugs from people for the Latin Kings.

According to the federal indictment, Meza was caught with co-defendant Sisto Bernal in 2004 possessing a “large quantity” of drugs and then again was caught with about 100 pounds of pot in March 2010. It also claims he hid the gun used to kill Jose Cortez in 2008.

According to his plea agreement, Meza’s sentence could increase because he admits he had a gun during his crimes but could benefit from the government agreeing he was a minor participant in the conspiracy.