HAMMOND, Ind. (AP) _ A federal judge in northwestern Indiana has sentenced a former Latin Kings street gang leader to 23 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to murder, racketeering and cocaine distribution charges.
 
U.S. District Judge Rudy Lozano also sentenced Alexander Vargas, 35, of Highland on Thursday to five years of supervised release after Vargas completes his sentence.
 
The Post-Tribune and The (Munster) Times said prosecutors described Vargas as an “Inca,'' or regional leader, overseeing northwestern Indiana and Chicago's south suburbs and said he ordered multiple killings as retaliation when a Latin King member was killed.
 
Vargas expressed remorse for his actions with the gang. He also said his cooperation with prosecutors had placed a target on his back and his life would never be the same in or out of prison.