Anita Alvarez & Rafael Malpica |
ALVAREZ reported that her
office prosecuted 10 defendants involved in human trafficking. “All
10 pleaded guilty because the evidence against them was strong,”
she said. Wiretap, surveillance and audiotapes were used to make the
case against the defendants. The offenders could not believe their
criminal activities were being watched. All defendants were all
charged with the Class X felony of Aggravated Traficking in Persons.
Trafficking a total of 16 victims, including 11 children and five
young adults.
STATE’S ATTORNEY ALVAREZ
introduced Rafael Malpica as the new Chairman of State's
Attorney Hispanic Advisory Council. Chairman Malpica also
welcomed the members of the Council. “The goal of the Council is to
represent our community and to collaborate between communities,”
said Malpica.
GUEST SPEAKER was Deputy
Supervisor, Brian Holmes, Gang Crimes Unit and Project Safe
Neighborhoods, a division of the Cook County State's Attorney office.
He spoke on the issue of “Guns & Gangs” and said there
is a lot of discussion in Springfield on what to do about our current
gun laws. “More young people are being charged with guns; and more
people are killed by guns in Chicago in a weekend than in Iraqi or
Afghanistan,” said Holmes. Holmes said some young people, between
17-20 years of age, are not hardening criminals. “They get into a
car and get into trouble,” he said.
DEPUTY SUPERVISOR HOLMES
receives a report every week, with over 100 sheets, on gun crimes
committed in Cook County. “I check every one,” he said “Guns
are coming into [Chicago] from Indiana, Wisconsin, Mississippi,
Alabama, mostly southern states. A gun crime is a 2 to 10 years in
jail. Holmes said a serious gun offense is the unlawful use of a gun
by a gang member, a Class X Felony, a 6 to 30 year jail sentence
under the Valadez Law, a non-probational sentence. Homes reported
that most gun crimes are committed in Police Districts 4, 7, 9, 10,
11 and 15. Little Village is in Police District 10.
Alejandro "Alex" Valadez |
IN CONCLUSION: State's
Attorney Alvarez said a young person told her an amazing thing. He
said, “We got to put “neighbor” back into neighborhood
to make our block safer. “Today, gun owners must report if their
gun is stolen or lost. It is the law, you report your bike or car if
it's stolen,” said Alvarez.
COOK COUNTY State's
Attorney Hispanic Advisory Council members are Ed Arroyo, Freddy
Calixto, Salvador A. Cicero, Neusa Gaytan, Michael J. Hernandez, Jose
Isais, Rafael Malpica, Francisco Menchaca, Nora Moreno Cargie, Martha
O'Bryan, Maria-Teresa Roman, Victoria Romero, August Sallas, Lupe
Sanchez, John B. Valencia, Blanca Vargas, Tito Vargas.
CHRISTINE CHAN, Deputy
Director, Community Outreach & Special Events, announced that she
is accepting nominations until August 8, 2014 of a Hispanic
Attorney serving in the Hispanic Community to be honored at the
State's Attorney's 22nd Annual El Humanitario Award
Ceremony. For details on how to submit your nomination, call
Christine Chan at 312/603-8724. Chan also announced the
upcoming 6th Annual Unity in the
Community Conference to be held on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2014,
from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the UIC Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt Road,
Chicago. Public invited.
CALENDAR
OF EVENTS
SATURDAY, JULY 26--- Free Haircuts
& Manicure from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Little Village Community
Council, 3610 W. 26th St. No appointment
necessary.
SUNDAY, JULY 27--- Mariachi Tapatio
musical event at the Manuel Perez Memorial Plaza, 26th
St. & Kolin Ave. from 4 p.m. To 6 p.m. Sponsored by the SSA #25 Commission. Open to the public.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 3—Trio Los Primos
musical event at the Manuel Perez Memorial Plaza, 26th
St. & Kolin Ave. from 4 p.m. To 6 p.m. Sponsored by the SSA #25 Commission. Open to the public.