4 Latin Dragon Nation Members Indicted in RICO Conspiracy

Four members of the Latin Dragon Nation street gang have been indicted on federal racketeering charges tied to two murders and a string of violent shootings across northwest Indiana and the Chicago area. The indictment, unsealed today, names Manuel Diaz, 26, of Hammond, Indiana; Eduardo Diaz-Corral, 20, of Calumet City, Illinois; Ralph Mendez Jr., 22, of Hammond, Indiana; and Joseph Roggenkamp, 20, of East Chicago, Indiana, as key players in a violent criminal enterprise that terrorized communities on both sides of the state line.

The charges stem from a RICO conspiracy that alleges the defendants participated in the murders of Paul Cruz on November 20, 2016, and Charles Berrios on September 30, 2016—both victims believed to be associated with a rival gang. Prosecutors say the killings were carried out to strengthen the Latin Dragon Nation’s grip on drug distribution routes and assert dominance through fear. The indictment also details multiple other shootings orchestrated to advance the gang’s criminal goals.

According to court documents, the Latin Dragon Nation originated in Chicago but has since expanded into the Northern District of Indiana, bringing with it a pattern of extreme violence. The gang’s activities include murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery, witness intimidation, and narcotics distribution. Federal authorities say the gang operated as a structured enterprise, with members carrying out orders under threat of retaliation.

Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division condemned the gang’s reach, stating, “Though the Latin Dragon Nation is believed to have originated in Chicago, the indictment unsealed today alleges that the street gang has exported its especially violent brand of criminal conduct to Northern Indiana.” He emphasized the DOJ’s commitment to dismantling violent criminal networks before they can take root in new territories.

U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II for the Northern District of Indiana echoed that sentiment, declaring, “Street gangs are terrorizing our neighborhoods with senseless violence that affects the daily lives of ordinary, law-abiding citizens.” He stressed that investigations and prosecutions do not stop at state borders, vowing that federal, state, and local agencies will continue to collaborate aggressively to dismantle gangs and hold members accountable.

The investigation was led by the FBI, ATF, Hammond Police Department, East Chicago Police Department, and law enforcement agencies in Chicago and Calumet City, Illinois. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Joseph A. Cooley of the DOJ’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. Nozick and Dean Lanter. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Diaz-Corral and Mendez Jr. have been detained pending further hearings; Manuel Diaz is scheduled for an initial appearance. The indictment marks a significant blow in the federal crackdown on cross-jurisdictional gang violence.