Gang members guilty in federal trial


April 22, 2008Recommend (4)

By MATT HANLEY mhanley@scn1.com
A federal jury has convicted six men of being part of an Aurora gang that committed three murders, five attempted murders and $1.25 million in drug trafficking.

After two weeks of deliberations, the jury found all but one of the Insane Deuces gang members guilty of racketeering Monday morning. The jury could not come to a decision on the seventh defendant, Harold Crowder, 29, of Aurora.

» Click to enlarge image (clockwise from top left) Fernando Delatorre, Christian Guzman, Steven Susinka, Juan Juarez and Julian Salazar were convicted of being part of an Aurora gang that committed three murders, five attempted murders and $1.25 million in drug trafficking.
(Courtesy)
» Click to enlarge image Fernando Delatorre, 23

» Click to enlarge image Steven Susinka, 24

» Click to enlarge image Christian Guzman, 23

» Click to enlarge image Julian Salazar, 28

» Click to enlarge image Juan Juarez, 30


With at least eight defendants still facing trial on similar charges, prosecutors declined comment. However, it was clear from the opening arguments that prosecutors had zeroed in on this case. Murder charges are typically local cases, but in September of 2005, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Aurora police and federal prosecutors charged 14 men with racketeering, or being part of a conspiracy to murder and sell drugs.

"These defendants and the gang to which they belong have terrorized the city of Aurora," U.S. Attorney Chris Hotaling said during his closing argument. "Their day of reckoning has finally come."

All the men were tried together in a two-month trial that involved 16 attorneys and days of testimony from an informant who secretly recorded gang meetings. Prosecutors said as an organization, the Deuces were responsible for the murders of David Lazcano, David Diego Morales-Garcia and Erbell Valdez.

All the men convicted Monday of racketeering face a maximum of 20 years in prison. However, some of the defendants could be eligible for a life sentence if prosecutors can prove they participated in planning a murder or were involved in more than one murder.

In addition to racketeering, the following defendants were also convicted of other charges, including:


• Bolivar Benabe, 40, who prosecutors characterized as one of the Chicago Deuces leaders, was also found guilty of narcotics conspiracy. Benabe allegedly traded letters with imprisoned gang leaders to carry out gang directives and reorganization.


• Julian Salazar, 28, the governor of Aurora's Deuces, was also convicted of conspiracy to murder and narcotics conspiracy.


• Juan Juarez, 30, of Sandwich, the overseer of suburban operations, was also found guilty of conspiracy to murder and narcotics conspiracy involving at least 50 grams of cocaine and 100 to 1,000 grams of marijuana.


• Fernando Delatorre, 23, of Aurora, was convicted of the murders of Valdez, Lazcano and Morales; one attempted murder; narcotics distribution; and narcotics conspiracy. The murder convictions make Delatorre eligible for a life sentence.


• Christian Guzman, 23, of Aurora, was also convicted of the murder of Lazcano and assault with a dangerous weapon. The murder conviction makes Guzman eligible for a life sentence.


• Steven Susinka, 24, of Aurora, was only found guilty of racketeering.

Prosecutors described Crowder, 29, as a special gang member who paid no dues and attended no meetings because he was the shooter. He will now be held with the charges still pending against him. He is scheduled to be in court again on May 28.

The trial against seven other alleged members of the Insane Deuces was scheduled to begin in April, but the judge declared a mistrial in the middle of opening statements.

The trial of Arturo Barbosa, Romell Handley, Lionel "Leo" Lechuga, Mariano Morales and Miguel Rodriguez, all of Aurora; Brian Hernandez of North Aurora; and Steven Perez of Oswego is scheduled to begin Oct. 6. All the men face racketeering charges.

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