Authorities from Illinois and Indiana today announced racketeering and conspiracy charges against several members of a violent Chicago street gang that allegedly crossed the state line repeatedly to commit murder, deal drugs and commit other crimes.



Four members of the Two Six Nation street gang and four associates were named in an indictment alleging they engaged in murder, kidnapping, robbery, aggravated battery and drug trafficking, according to federal, state and local law enforcement officials.



The indictment was filed in the U.S. District Court in northern Indiana.



"What I think you will quickly discern from the indictment is the back and forth from across the border," U.S. Atty. David Capp of the Northern District of Indiana said at a news conference at the East Chicago Police Department. "These criminals have no respect for the state line border, nor do they have any respect for any border of any particular jurisdiction."



The gang, which gained it's name from its origins along 26th street in Chicago, operated on Chicago's South Side as well as in northwest Indiana, according to prosecutors.



Named in the indictment are Oscar Cosme, 41, of East Chicago; Adron Herschel Tancil, 36, of East Chicago, Ind.; Jesus Valentin Fuentes, 39, of Gary; Ester D. Carrera, 61, of Gary; Frank Perez Jr., 33, of Verona, Pa.; Anthony Cresencio Aguilera, 35, of Portage, Ind.; Paul Henry Brock, 27, of Gary; and Alma Delia Carrera, 28, of Gary.



Aguilera was arrested in Hammond this morning, Capp said. Brock and Carrera were arrested last night. The others were already in custody, Capp said.



The indictment details more than 40 crimes, including the 1999 murder of Jose Pena Jr. in Whiting, Ind., who was believed to be a rival gang member, as well as the 2003 murder of Julio Cartagena, who was believed to have stolen 50 kilograms of cocaine from one of the defendants.



The crimes go back more than 20 years, according to the indictment.



Capp said the indictment was the third time racketeering laws has been used against a violent street gang in northwest Indiana.



"We are going to continue to use this powerful tool to get these individuals off the street," Capp said. "Once again, I want to send my message to those who are members of or continue to associate with violent street gangs: We are coming after you and you are next."



