Hammond man in DC thought it was OK

Makes videos saying he believes trip was fine ahead of sentencing

In two videos posted to his Facebook page, Kash Lee Kelly explains his criminal past, responds to a Post-Tribune story and takes a Porter County Republican Party official to task.

Kelly, 32, of Hammond, posted the videos Monday afternoon and evening. In the first, he notes receiving a call from his attorney about a reporter reaching out to him. In the second, while in the midst of an online Zoom talk show, Kelly finds out about and responds to a Post-Tribune story about his travels to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6.

“I’ve got a case that I’ve been fighting for four years, that I took a plea on,” Kelly said in the first video, adding he faces a sentence of five to 40 years for things he did as a teenager. “I was a kid. Before I got indicted, I’d already become a pillar in my life. I fixed me without the help of the courts.”

He said though he left behind gang life with the Latin Kings, he was still indicted with people he didn’t know and said he is scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 11 in U.S. District Court in Hammond.

Kelly’s multiple videos and pictures on his social media accounts depict him on the way to and then at the protest that took place in Washington, which devolved into a mob action and breach of the U.S. Capitol. At least five people, including a police officer, died during the Jan. 6 attack meant to disrupt Congressional certification of Joe Biden as the country’s next president. For the second day in a row, Kelly did not respond to a request for comment.

His Chicago attorney, Joshua Adams, declined to comment.

Kelly was one of 12 current or former reputed members of the Latin Kings facing charges filed in January 2017 U.S. District Court in Hammond, part of a wider investigation into the street gang.

Kelly, charged with conspiracy to distribute narcotics, filed a plea agreement later that year and, according to a transcript of his June 26, 2017, change of plea hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Philip Simon, admitted his role in selling large amounts of

“I was under the impression I had clearance.” — Kash Lee Kelly of Hammond

marijuana for the Latin Kings. Kelly also admitted during the hearing that he assisted in the sale of cocaine for the gang and used a firearm during the commission of the crimes. Kelly spoke at an Oct. 17 “Freedom Rally” at Central Park Plaza in downtown Valparaiso. The event was sponsored by the Porter County Republican Party and a flyer for the rally described Kelly as a “speaker and conservative social media superstar.”

Mike Simpson, chair of the county party organization, has said party officials “had no idea” about Kelly’s criminal past and only found out about it after seeing Kelly’s social media posts that appear to depict him in Washington. During the second video, a commenter said they saw Kelly made the Chicago Tribune, the parent newspaper for the Post-Tribune. He steps away from the other speakers on the Zoom talk show for a few minutes to read the article and returns.

He then read the story aloud, commenting about Simpson’s claims that party officials did not know about Kelly’s past.

Kelly said he has been open about his life and Simpson was trying to cover his tracks.

“That’s a damn lie. They knew my background when they asked me to speak,” Kelly said.

Kelly also said he’s encouraged peaceful protests and spoke against violence all of last year, “and you report me as if I am that. That’s foul. That’s foul.”

Kelly was scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 8 but Adams asked for the date to be continued until February because of “the voluminous discovery tendered by the government” and defense objections to sentencing enhancements suggested in a presentencing investigation, among other factors, including the COVID -1 9 pandemic, which hampered Kelly’s ability to meet with his attorney .

Additionally, Kelly requested permission to travel to Dallas, Texas, for the day on Jan. 2 to attend a paid speaking engagement, leaving Indiana that morning and returning that night. There does not appear to be a filing requesting permission for Kelly to travel to Washington for the protest.

“I was under the impression I had clearance to go to D.C.,” Kelly said in the first video, adding he told Adams he planned to travel from Dallas to the Capitol.

His probation officer also called to ask if he had traveled to Washington, D.C., and he told her he had, but added in the video that in four years, he’s not had a single probation violation.

When a viewer sends in a comment asking about a protest at the federal courthouse during his sentencing “to keep Kash free,” Kelly begs them off.

“Nah, we don’t want to do that, guys. I don’t want to get anyone in trouble because of me. It’s a federal case,” he said.

The FBI’s website contains a growing number of releases announcing charges federal against people from across the country who were involved in the breach and desecration of the Capitol on Jan. 6.

“Like FBI field offices across the country, FBI Indianapolis is receiving tips regarding Hoosiers who may have been at the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., Jan. 6. Any subjects that are arrested/indicted will be prosecuted by the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington, D.C.,” FBI spokeswoman Chris Bavender said in an email.