Gang Member Charged In 1999 Hammond Murders

HAMMOND, IN — United States Attorney Thomas Kirsch announced Friday that a member of the Chicago and Northwest Indiana-based Latin Kings has been charged with the 1999 murders of two men during a robbery at a Hammond business, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Indiana. Jeremiah Shane Farmer, 37, of Hammond, is accused of beating 74-year-old Marion Lowry and 67-year-old Harvey Siegers to death with a small sledge hammer on June 25, 1999 at Calumet Auto Rebuilders, WLS reported.

Another reported Latin Kings member, Mark Anthony Toney, 39, of Lake Village, was charged with intimidating witnesses who were cooperating with police after the murders.

Farmer and Toney were also included in Friday's indictment of federal racketeering and drug conspiracy charges against six members of the gang. The other four named members are:

• Sean Michael Pena, also known as (aka) “Big Body,” 36, of Hammond, Indiana
• David Ulmenstine, aka “Silent,” 27, of Harvey, Illinois
• Reynaldo Robles, aka “Sneaky,” 27, of Lake Station, Indiana
• Miguel Angel Marines, aka “Egg,” 24, of East Chicago, Indiana

The indictment reported conspiracies dated back to 1999 to commit racketeering activity by the Latin Kings street gang and a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, marijuana, and alprazolam (Xanax). According to the release, a total of 50 members or associates of the Latin Kings street gang have been charged in the Northern District of Indiana as part of this case.

“This indictment should send a strong message to those engaged in gang and other violent crime. We will focus all of our law enforcement efforts on reducing violent crime in my District,” U.S. Attorney Kirsch said in a release.

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