December 26, 2019. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Worcester:508-368-0100. Here are descriptions from his bios of the city players: Jose Rodriguez is the current Inca for the New Bedford Chapter of The Latin Kings, and is the brother of Jorge Rodriguez and Roberto Vargas. His orders were often violent, Lelling said, including ordering the murder of those who questioned his authority and authorizing various levels of violence against anyone cooperating with law enforcement.. Lelling said hes hopeful that the operation quiets the gangs activity on the East Coast. Attorneys Philip A. Mallard and Lauren Graber of Mendells Criminal Division prosecuted the case. The Latin Kings are a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. Valuable assistance was also provided by the FBI North Shore Gang Task Force and the Bristol County and Suffolk County District Attorneys Offices. The East Coast and Massachusetts leadership of the Almighty Latin Kings and Queen Nation (Latin Kings), including more than 60 members and associates, face federal charges. All those charged were identified by their full names as well as nicknames such as King Nasty, King Fruity, and King Clumsy in charging documents. The Latin Kings adhere to a national manifesto, employ an internal judiciary, and use a sophisticated system of communication to maintain the hierarchy of the criminal organization. 2023 www.southcoasttoday.com. The RICO conspiracy charge provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Lugo admitted that she conspired with other Latin Kings members and leaders to possess cocaine base (also known as crack cocaine) with the intent to distribute it. The Latin Kings are a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. 1 Courthouse Way, Suite 9200 Lopez-Velez is a probationary member of the New Bedford Chapter of the Latin Kings. District of Massachusetts In 2010, law enforcement began to see an increase in street-level drug sales and violence in areas of the city known to be occupied by the Latin Kings. These are the top stories of the past week on, New Bedford School Committee Members on Student Protest Against Oliver, New Bedford Mayor, City Councilor Denounce Councilor-Elect Olivers Memes, New Bedfords Hotel Waverly Most Recently Provided Sober Housing, New Bedford LGBTQ Students, Allies Plan Protest Over Olivers Election, Company Behind Former New Bedford Methadone Clinic Proposal Charged With Fraud, New Bedford 2016 Clinton Visit May Have Violated Election Laws, New Bedford Relocating Senior Programs and Adult Day Care, Massachusetts Pandemic SNAP Benefits End March 2. Dozens of firearms, including machine guns and sawed-off shotguns, were seized, as well as six cars, six motorcycles, three jet skis, an ATV, various drugs, and about $38,000 in cash. Attorneys Philip A. Mallard and Lauren Graber of Lellings Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. BOSTON A Boston man has been sentenced for robbing a TD Bank branch in Cambridge. In October Vasquez was violently terminated from the Latin Kings for violating a gang law forbidding fornication with the girlfriend of another member. In total, 62 alleged gang members were charged nine of which were already in custody and eight of which are now fugitives. December 5, 2019 Mendez was also present during a December 2018 group assault in a garage, where co-defendant Michael Cotto, a/k/a King Gordo, was captured participating in a group assault of another individual and observed striking the victim with a baseball bat. Bonavolonta said law enforcement learned of the gangs planned violence over and over throughout the investigation. U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts, Former Member of New Bedford Latin Kings Sentenced to Over Eight Years in Prison for Racketeering Conspiracy, Boston Man Sentenced for Cambridge Bank Robbery, New Hampshire Man Indicted for Allegedly Robbing Five Massachusetts Banks, Boston Man Indicted for Robbing Brookline Bank, Former Member of New Bedford Latin Kings Sentenced To Over Eight Years In Prison For Racketeering Conspiracy. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. Recordings from this year capture a cooperating witness purchasing cocaine from Valentin-Soto. In 2018, Johnson pleaded guilty to larceny from a person and assault and battery by means of dangerous weapon and was sentenced to 1 year in the House of Correction. Richard Neals long quest for Trumps tax returns is finished. Among 11 active Latin Kings chapters in Massachusetts, New Bedford was singled out in the affidavit for its "extremely. BOSTONForty-six individuals, many of whom are alleged to be leaders, members, significant criminal associates, or drug suppliers of the Latin Kings street gang, operating in New Bedford, Massachusetts, were charged today on federal and state drug offenses. Reyes-Smith is believed to have left Massachusetts following a May 2018 shooting that was caught on camera and for which he is currently in warrant status. Boston Office: Court documents indicate law enforcement used at least three confidential sources. Over 60 Members of Latin Kings Charged, 23 from New Bedford. SportsNet New York ( SNY) is an American regional sports network owned by Sterling Entertainment Enterprises, LLC, itself a joint venture between the Fred Wilpon (which owns a controlling 65% interest) Sterling Equities, Charter Communications through its acquisition of Time Warner Cable in May 2016 (which owns 27%) and Comcast, through . King G, who at the time was second in command of the Latin Kings in Massachusetts. One gang member then shot the victims, who escaped in the car and survived. The Latin Kings adhere to a national manifesto, employ an internal judiciary and use a sophisticated system of communication to maintain the hierarchy of the organization. Now, 48 years later, officials have identified the 'Lady of the Dunes. As enforcer for the New Bedford Latin Kings,Vasquez approved a mission that involved shooting a victim in June 2019, the office stated. It is alleged that during the investigation, recorded undercover purchases revealed that over the last 18 months, the individuals arrested today sold narcotics in the New Bedford to cooperating witnesses and undercover officers. Court documents detail years of gang members conspiring to kill snitches, organizing for prisoners to be attacked via coded letters, and running a robust drug trafficking organization. Avitable was a key player in facilitating the Latin Kings expansion in the area, as the apartment buildings provided powerful infrastructure to recruit members and lure vulnerable juveniles to join the gang with the promises of housing and brotherhood, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Guadalupe is a current member of the New Bedford Chapter of the Latin Kings. Four Latin Kings, including a New Bedford teen accused in multiple assaults, have been released on bail by federal judges after the massive "Operation Throne Down" sweep earlier this month,. Everyone undoubtedly thinks of the New Bedford Whaling Museum when they look for an indoor day in the city. BOSTON A Boston man has been sentenced for robbing a TD Bank branch in Cambridge. Jose Rodriguez, a/k/a "King Stutter," 34, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to 54 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found athttps://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. InDecember 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment alleging racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and firearms charges against 62 leaders, members and associates of the Latin Kings. Three apartment buildings in New Bedford were turned into "trap houses" used by the Latin Kings, according to federal prosecutors. Paris is a current member of the New Bedford Chapter of the Latin Kings. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. More than 60 Latin Kings members and associates arrested New Bedford Latin Kings bought houses they planned to renovate and flip in an elaborate scheme to launder drug money, feds say a move . Rodriguez is the 38th defendant to be sentenced in the case. The Latin Kings adhere to a national manifesto, employ an internal judiciary and use a sophisticated system of communication to maintain the hierarchy of the organization. A lock ( According to New Bedford Police report, on June 20, a convenience store on Purchase Street was robbed by two men carrying guns. Before the sun even came up Thursday, law enforcement officials in several Massachusetts cities and towns - including New Bedford - were busy arresting dozens of suspects charged in connection. BOSTON A Boston man has been indicted in connection with the September 2022 robbery of a bank in Brookline. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. A violent criminal enterprise with thousands of members across the U.S., the Latin Kings sell drugs to generate revenue and engages in violence against witnesses and rival gangs, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. The Latin Kings are known to sell cocaine, fentanyl and heroin. Rodriguez served as Inca, or leader, of the New Bedford Chapter of the Latin Kings. The charge stemmed from a February incident in which a victim told police that a total of six people assaulted him and stole approximately $600 from his wallet. Former Latin Kings Crown Council Chairman Angel Rodriguez (King Ace) pled guilty and his sentencing is scheduled for April, according to the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts. The victim was apparently targeted for selling drugs from a source that was not gang-approved. We found a few you might not have explored yet that are definitely worth the trip. BOSTON (AP) More than 60 members of the Latin Kings have been arrested on federal racketeering, drug and firearms charges, including the leaders of the street gang's East Coast operations,. View this $1800000 4 bed, 3.0 bath, 4875 sqft single family home located at 27 Marcus Garvey Blvd built in 1931 on Zillow. BOSTON A New Hampshire man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for the allegedly committing a string of five bank robberies across Northern Massachusetts. NEW YORK, June 8 (Reuters) - Forty-six people who authorities say are members or associates of the Latin Kings street gang face narcotics trafficking charges after a major drug sweep in. Have a question about Government Services? Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. In December 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment alleging racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and firearms charges against 62 leaders, members and associates of the Latin Kings. Avitable was also heard on multiple recordings in discussions with gang leaders, including discussing a joint real estate deal with Rodriguez and how he would help launder drug money for the Latin Kings. The following individuals have been charged by federal complaint: 17) Jordan Jorge, 20, of New Bedford18) Felicia Timoteo, 20, of New Bedford. The charges range from RICO conspiracy to drug trafficking and firearms abuses. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. The clerk, who was not aware of the scam, was struck by the robbers. During that incident, multiple Latin Kings members chased the two victims to a vehicle, surrounded the vehicle, and slashed their tires. Officials believe some lyrics are admissions of shooting other gang members. If you dont have that, its very difficult to get the leaders.. Shortly after the shooting, Paris was captured on a recording made by a cooperating witness admitting to shooting at the rival gang members and firing eight shots but not striking anyone. Jorge is a current member of the New Bedford Chapter of the Latin Kings. Guadalupe admitted to participating in an unarmed robbery committed in November 2019 by members of the Latin Kings in New Bedford. BOSTON A former member of the New Bedford Chapter of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (Latin Kings) pleaded guilty on March 3 to racketeering charges. The United States Attorneys Office for the District of Massachusetts; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; and New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro made the announcement. BOSTON A former member of the New Bedford Chapter of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (Latin Kings) was sentenced today on racketeering charges. In November 2020, Lugo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine base. A total of 22 individuals are named from New Bedford as members of the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation in the indictment filed by FBI Special Agent Dominic Coppo. In December 2020, Paris pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy. She stated that she was present for the assault and when the group was told to eat and they began assaulting the victim, Barboza indicated that she thought that meant her too, and that the other Latin Kings members were holding her back. As part of the plea agreement, Avitable has agreed to forfeit the three apartment buildings that he owned in the City of New Bedford. Assistant U.S. The following individuals were arrested this morning and have been charged with federal narcotics violations: 1) Jouseph Caraballo, 38, of New Bedford2) Juan Serrano, 43, of New Bedford3) Terrill McKissack, 24, of New Bedford4) Raphael Pineda, 23, of New Bedford5) Gabriel Vaszquez, 25, of New Bedford6) Ezequiel Quinones, 39, of New Bedford (fugitive)7) Javier Natal, 22, of New Bedford8) Luis Guerra, 31, of New Bedford9) Giovanni Vale-Valentin, 22, of New Bedford10) Manuel Torres, 20, of New Bedford11) Jesus Carrasquillo, 22, of New Bedford12) Pedro Figueroa, 27, of New Bedford13) Ramon Sanchez, 20, of New Bedford14) Enoe Carrasquillo, 26, of Puerto Rico15) Jesmeil Ortiz, 21, of Puerto Rico (fugitive) 16) Mari Gomez, 43, of New Bedford. Amsterdam Tourism Amsterdam Hotels Amsterdam Bed and Breakfast Amsterdam Vacation Rentals Amsterdam Vacation Packages Mendez has historically held various leadership positions. On Aug. 24, 2019, Lugo was captured on video delivering cocaine base to another Latin Kings member in a trap house, the news release said. Springfield:413-785-0235 OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Figueroa is featured in numerous rap videos under the name, Almighty King Pun, where he discusses various Latin Kings racketeering activity. Lugo is the current secretary for the New Bedford Chapter of the Latin Kings. The state defendants will be prosecuted by District Attorney Sutters Office. There are 11 active Latin Kings Chapters operating in Massachusetts: D5K (Boston), Morton Street Bricks (Boston), New Bedford, Springfield, Lynn/Salem, Chelsea, Lowell, Lawrence, Worcester, Fitchburg and within the Department of Corrections. Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling called the Latin Kings one of the largest criminal organizations in the world.. Two high-ranking brothers of the Latin Kings oversaw brutal beatings and attempted murders in New Bedford as a bloody gang war escalated with the death of a teenager in October, a. Cotto is a member of the New Bedford Chapter and former Eastern Massachusetts Regional Officer for the Latin Kings. BOSTON A Boston man responsible for a leading large drug trafficking organization (DTO) pleaded guilty today to heroin and fentanyl conspiracy charges and possessing a firearm in furtherance of District of Massachusetts A lock ( Amsterdam. Jose Rodriguez, a/k/a King Stutter, 34, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to 54 months in prison and three years of supervised release. New Bedford Latin Kings bought houses they planned to renovate and flip in an elaborate scheme to launder drug money, feds say a move one organized crime expert called an indicator of how . The Latin Kings adhere to a national manifesto, employ an internal judiciary and use a sophisticated system of communication to maintain the hierarchy of the organization. In November 2020, Rodriguez was sentenced to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. In New Bedford, the Latin Kings ran a vast cocaine base distribution network that used multi-unit apartment buildings known as trap houses to distribute narcotics. The properties were used by gang members to hide weapons,. Multiple search warrants executed by the New Bedford Police Department targeted locations where Mendez resided, and drug were seized as a result. BOSTON (1420 WBSM) The former landlord associated with the New Bedford chapter of the Latin Kings who owned the trap houses used for their drug activity was sentenced today in federal court for racketeering and drug offenses. This morning, over 500 federal, state and local law enforcement officers arrested dozens of Latin Kings members and associates and executed 31 search warrants at 24 locations. In December 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment alleging racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and firearms charges against 62 leaders, members and associates of the Latin Kings. According to court documents, the Eastern Region of the Latin Kings encompasses local chapters in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and various other states along the eastern seaboard from Maryland to Florida. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. A December 2019 operation called "Operation Throne Down" saw 62 Latin Kings leaders, members and associates arrested and indicted for racketeering, drug trafficking, and firearms violations. 1 Comment. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. The Latin Kings are a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. 1 Courthouse Way, Suite 9200 On January 4, UPROSE, Brooklyn's oldest Latino community based organization, held its first Three . The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Lelling said Operation Throne Down prevented at least eight murders. They had been targeted because they objected to Latin Kings members dealing drugs in their driveway. United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction made the announcement today. More than 500 law enforcement agents began making arrests around 4 a.m. Thursday after the four-year investigation into the gang. In December 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment alleging racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and firearms charges against 62 leaders, members and associates of the Latin Kings. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, Avitable rented apartments to Latin Kings members knowing they would be uses to sell, store and manufacture drugs. However, there are actually quite a few museums throughout New Bedford for a wide range of interests. A lock ( A February recording captures Barboza and others discussing the beating of an individual. BOSTON - A former member of the New Bedford Chapter of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation ("Latin Kings") pleaded guilty on March 3 to racketeering charges.