Posen man guilty in murder

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A Posen man faces life in prison after pleading guilty Thursday to murder, racketeering and drug-trafficking charges in U.S. District Court in Hammond, Ind.

Ivan Quiroz, 20, admitted to his role in two 2007 murders outside a restaurant in Griffith, Ind., possessing large quantities of drugs to distribute, and participating in criminal activities with the Latin Kings gang.

In a plea agreement, Quiroz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in racketeering, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms of cocaine and at least 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, two counts of murder in aid of racketeering, and two counts of murder during a crime of violence or drug trafficking.

The two counts of murder in aid of racketeering carry a mandatory life-in-prison sentence, while the racketeering and two other murder charges come with a maximum of life in prison. The drug charge carries a minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison.

In the indictment, Quiroz was accused of carrying out the Feb. 25, 2007, shooting deaths of James Walsh and Gonzalo Diaz, leaders of the rival gang Latin Dragons, outside Soprano’s Restaurant and Lounge.

Quiroz’s sentencing is scheduled for April 30.

Co-defendant Alexander Vargas, who pleaded guilty to all charges earlier this month, ordered their deaths in retaliation for the shooting death of his brother.

Quiroz was identified by his co-defendants as the driver of the getaway car. After the murders, Quiroz and others fled to Mexico to hide out for a month.

The indictment charges 23 people with taking part in the criminal activities of the Latin Kings, including two former Chicago Police Department officers.