Officials unveil Lake County's most-wanted gang members

Gang members should be prepared to get what they give, Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran said Monday.

As part of releasing an updated list of the "worst of the worst" gang members in the county, including two wanted for murder, Curran said the intensity of violence will be countered by the intensity of the law.

"Gangs are responsible for all of the drug dealing and most of the violence in Lake County," Curran said. "They have basically declared war on society, and we are declaring war on them."

U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk joined Curran for a news conference at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms headquarters in Chicago to showcase the latest "Top Ten Most Wanted" gang members list.

Included on the list are Edward Perez, a former Gurnee resident wanted in a 2004 murder of a rival gang member, and Jose Pedro Delgado, a Waukegan man charged with a 2003 murder.

"Illinois leads the nation in per capita gang members, fueled in part by the growth of suburban street gangs," Kirk said. "As violent gangs are pushed out of Chicago, they are relocating to the northern suburbs."

They asked the public to call the sheriff's office with information they have about people on the list, and stressed public cooperation is critical.

Since it originated last year, the most wanted list has led to the arrest of 17 fugitives. It is repopulated after each time a suspect is apprehended.

Perez, 21, is the suspected gunman in the Aug. 27, 2004 shooting death of 15-year-old Terreal Gates in Park City. Delqado, 22, a reputed leader of a Waukegan street gang, is charged with the Oct. 19, 2003 shooting death of Jesus Montes-De-Oca.

Others on this year's list are: Alejandro Ramirez of Mundelein, wanted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; Javier Maldonado of Waukegan, charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm; Arturo Hernandez of North Chicago, wanted for aggravated battery with a firearm; Alex Coleman of Kenosha and Germaine Bess of Waukegan, both charged with violations of the state sex offender registration law; Jerald Spivey of North Chicago, wanted for drug possession; Keany Parks of Zion, charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse; and Osvaldo Wence of Waukegan, charged with unlawful use of a weapon.

Kirk's office said the 2009 National Gang Threat Assessment estimates there are approximately 3,500 suspected gang members in Lake County.

The state, according to the same study, has eight to 11 gang members per 1,000 residents, more than any other state in the country.

"The most important ally we have are the citizens who are far too often victimized by these criminals," he said.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Related links</h2> <ul class="moreWeb"> <li><a href="http://www.lakecountyil.gov/SHERIFF/COMMUNITYSAFETY/WANTED/GangMembers.htm">Lake Co.'s ten most wanted gang members</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>