Member of the Krazy Locos Criminal Street Gang Sentenced to Life Imprisonment Following Convictions for Two Homicides, Robbery, and Firearms Charges

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office; Hugo Barrera, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Anthony V. Mangione, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations, Miami Field Office; and Ric L. Bradshaw, Sheriff, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, announced today the sentencing of Manuel DeJesus Medina, a member of the Krazy Locos criminal street gang of Lake Worth, Florida. Medina, 19, was sentenced to life imprisonment, followed by a consecutive term of 420 months’ imprisonment, on charges related to two homicides committed in Palm Beach County during January and February 2009. The charges against Medina and other gang members arose from a joint federal-state investigation into the Krazy Locos gang, which was operating throughout Palm Beach County.

As set forth in the charging documents and documents filed with the court, Medina was a member of the “Krazy Locos,” also known as the “KL” gang, operating primarily in Palm Beach County. The Krazy Locos has been affiliated at times with another gang, the “Making Life Krazy” or “MLK” gang, which also operates in Palm Beach County. From 2007 through 2009, there were approximately forty Krazy Locos gang members and associates.

According to documents filed with the court, the Krazy Locos organization made money through the sale of controlled substances, primarily oxycodone, Xanax, methadone, cocaine, crack, and marijuana. With respect to the prescription medications (oxycodone, Xanax, and methadone), a Krazy Locos member would “sponsor” a patient, that is, pay for the patient’s medical visit and prescription, in exchange for a portion of the prescription medication. The gang would then re-sell the prescription medication. Members of the gang also were required to pay “taxes” to the gang on a weekly basis and often resorted to criminal activity to secure the money to pay their “taxes.”

Medina was also charged for his involvement in two homicides. Counts 1 through 4 of the Second Superseding Information charged Medina with a number of offenses related to his involvement in the homicide of a person known as “R.F.” on January 9, 2009. The Second Superseding Information charged that the Krazy Locos is a criminal organization whose members and associates engaged in acts of violence, including attempted murder, obstruction of justice, extortion and distribution of controlled substances, and which operated principally in Palm Beach County. Counts 5 through 10 of the Second Superseding Information relate to an attempted Hobbs Act robbery in Palm Beach County that resulted in the death of a Palm Beach County man, “D.R.,” and the serious injury of another, “A.R,” on February 22, 2009.

On August 6, 2010, Medina pled guilty to all charges contained in the Second Superseding Information. Medina admitted that he was the person who shot and killed both R.F. and D.R. Medina agreed to be sentenced to the statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, to be followed by thirty-five years’ imprisonment. Medina also agreed to cooperate against the leaders of the gang and provided information regarding their involvement in the two homicides.

On Friday, October 22, 2010, United States District Judge Kenneth A. Marra sentenced Medina to life imprisonment with no possibility of parole, followed by a consecutive term of 420 months’ imprisonment. Medina was further ordered to pay $34,396.27 in restitution.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI, ATF, ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations in West Palm Beach, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, and the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marie Villafaña and Mark Dispoto.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov/.