Jury convicts Chicago gang's reputed leader of racketeering

CHICAGO (AP) - A federal jury has convicted a Chicago street gang's reputed leader on charges alleging that he directed the gang in committing four killings and other violent crimes over the course of two decades.

Jurors convicted Labar Spann, 44, on Monday of racketeering conspiracy charges. He now faces a mandatory life sentence, with his sentencing hearing set for March 9 and 10.

A total of 18 witnesses, including some of Spann's top henchmen, identified him as the leader of the Four Corner Hustlers. Prosecutors described the gang as a group of West Side robbers, drug dealers and killers.

Prosecutors alleged Spann took over the reins of the gang after he was shot and paralyzed in 1999. He was charged in a sweeping 2017 indictment which alleged he conspired with others to commit six gangland murders from 2000 to 2003.

Jurors found that Spann had participated in Latin Kings boss Rudy 'œKato'ť Rangel's 2003 contract killing. But they found that prosecutors had not proven his involvement beyond a reasonable doubt in two of the other five slayings charged in the indictment, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Storino told jurors Spann committed crimes with 'œreckless abandon'ť and in 'œspectacular fashion'ť in order to bolster his reputation on Chicago's West Side.

'œThe point was to keep people in fear,'ť Storino said.

Defense attorney Steven Shobat said told jurors that the state's case was built on unreliable witnesses.