Five people from Elkhart have been indicted in a home invasion robbery case.

The Department of Justice says a small group known as the “ChoppaBoyz” robbed a homeowner on June 9, 2020. The homeowner was shot in the leg and then beaten repeatedly with handguns while the robbers demanded to know where a safe was in the home, investigators say.

Police say the robbers stole the safe, drugs, money, a handgun, and jewelry. After the police arrived, they obtained a search warrant for the home and found cocaine, marijuana, and prescription pills that the robbers didn’t notice. Police say the robbers asked for an AR-15 pistol that was recently traded, which gave the victims some idea of who the robbers were.

The Department of Justice says based on this and other information, they were able to track down the five suspects.

“This indictment is an example of the investigative focus on violence in our communities and the impact of collaboration among agencies in which crimes cross state lines,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan, “The FBI’s Safe Streets Gang Task Force will continue to work with our partners the Elkhart Police Department, the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, and the South Bend Police Department to pursue those who commit these violent crimes and take them off our streets.”

They were charged by way of a two-count indictment with robbery affecting interstate commerce and using a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence, says U.S. Attorney Thomas Kirsch II.

“I commend the FBI, in addition to the other agencies that participated in solving this case,” said Kirsch. “Violent crimes, like those alleged, will be thoroughly investigated by our law enforcement partners and prosecuted by my Office.”

The five people charged are the following:

-Marco Fernandez (age 24)

-Jose Trigo (age 20)

-Juanito Gould (age 24)

-Carlos Reyes (age 20)

-Emmanuel Martinez-Guevara (age 20)