Gang Member Is Ninth To Plead Guilty In Dodge City Racketeering Case

A Dodge City man has pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting attempted murder in connection with a federal racketeering case, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

Enrique Gobin , 23, Dodge City, pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting attempted murder, which was a violent crime in aid of racketeering. In his plea, he admitted that on March 30, 2011, he was involved in the attempted murder of a Sureno gang member.

On the day of the crime, Gobin was with two fellow members of the Diablos Viejos gang – Jesus Sanchez and Andrew Gusman – and an LCC gang member named Alfonso Banda-Hernandez . All four of them were affiliated with the Nortenos street gang. At the east Love’s convenience store in Dodge City they encountered George Gonzalez, who was a known member of the rival Sureno gang. The two sides exchanged gang signs and slurs.

The Nortenos left the store and divided themselves into two cars. Gobin and Sanchez were in one car, with Gobin driving. They returned to the area of the store and pursued a car in which Gonzalez was riding. Near 1602 6 ^th Ave., Gonzalez got out of his car and ran up an alley toward his girlfriend’s residence. Sanchez fired at least two shots from a .40 caliber handgun at Gonzalez without hitting him.

Later, when officers of the Dodge City Police Department conducted a search of Gobin’s home, they found the gun used to shoot at Sanchez.

In his plea, Gobin admitted that robberies, assaults and other crimes were part of the way Norteno gang members built their reputations and kept their rivals at bay.

Sentencing is set for Sept. 3. Gobin was one of 23 Norteno members to be indicted in May 2012. It was only the second time a federal RICO Act indictment (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) had been filed in Kansas. Gobin is the ninth defendant in the case to enter a guilty plea .