Description: Hammond, Indiana criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant charged with conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute cocaine and marijuana, and two counts of using a firearm to commit the murders of Lauren Calvillo (age 16) and Christopher White (age 33).

On June 29, 2015, Eduardo Luciano, age 34, from Hammond, Indiana, and other gang members formulated a plan to shoot and kill members of the Latin Kings, a rival criminal street gang, who were attending a vigil on the 5500 block of Beal Street in Hammond, Indiana. After planning the shooting, gang members drove to the vicinity of the vigil where multiple shots were fired into the crowd. At the time of shooting, Christopher White (33), who was visiting family on Beal Street, was shot in front of the family member’s home, and later died. Lauren Calvillo (16) was shot and killed while on the front porch of her family’s Beal Street home.

Previously, co-defendant Latin Count member Ivan Reyes pled guilty to racketeering conspiracy and two counts of murder in aid of racketeering. Co-defendant Jeron Williams pled guilty to racketeering conspiracy and admitted his involvement in and responsibility for the Calvillo and White murders. Co-defendant Latin Count member Robert Loya pled guilty to racketeering conspiracy. All three are awaiting sentencing.

Luciano’s sentencing will be scheduled by separate order of the Court. Any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the District Court Judge after consideration of federal statutes and the United States Sentencing Guidelines.

This case is the result of the investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives/High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and the Hammond, Indiana Police Department, and this investigation has received substantial assistance from numerous law enforcement agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation/Gang Response Investigative Team Task Force, the Gary Police Department, the Indiana State Police, the East Chicago Police Department, and the Chicago Police Department. The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys David J. Nozick, Caitlin M. Padula, and Kimberly L. Schultz.

18:1962(d) CONSPIRACY TO PARTICIPATE IN RACKETEERING ACTIVITY and FORFEITURE ALLEGATIONS
(1)
18:1962(d) CONSPIRACY TO PARTICIPATE IN RACKETEERING ACTIVITY and FORFEITURE ALLEGATIONS
(1s)
18:1962(d) CONSPIRACY TO PARTICIPATE IN RACKETEERING ACTIVITY and RICO FORFEITURE ALLEGATIONS
(1ss)
21:846 CONSPIRACY TO POSSESS WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE AND DISTRIBUTE COCAINE AND MARIJUANA
(2ss)
18:924(c)(1)(A) and (j) MURDER RESULTING FROM THE USE AND CARRYING OF FIRARM DURING AND IN RELATION TO A CRIME OF VIOLENCE
(3ss-4ss)

Outcome: Defendant was found guilty following a 7-day jury trial.

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