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Posted on: December 6, 2019

Over 60 Members of Latin Kings Charged

BOSTON

Over 60 Members of Latin Kings Charged

Members of the East Coast and Massachusetts leadership arrested

BOSTON – 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.

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.

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. 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.

Criminal activity in the Eastern Region is led by Michael Cecchetelli, a/k/a “King Merlin, 40, of Springfield, who holds the title of Supreme East Coast Regional Overseer. Cecchetelli is alleged to be the conduit between each of the Eastern Region states and the Latin Kings national leadership in Chicago. He developed a leadership approach to the gang which has become a model for other Latin Kings regions of the country.

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. As alleged in court documents, the gang uses drug distribution to generate revenue, and is motivated by a desire to further its influence and to protect its turf from rival gangs. This has fostered a culture of institutional violence and secrecy.

During the four-year investigation, law enforcement developed evidence that the Latin Kings trafficked drugs, conspired to murder more than 10 victims, and committed violent crimes including numerous incidents of robbery, shootings, stabbings and witness intimidation.

The RICO conspiracy charge provides a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Depending on the drug quantity, the drug trafficking conspiracy and distribution charges provide for a sentence of up to 20 years, 40 years, or life, a minimum of three, four or five years of supervised release and fines of $1 million, $5 million and $10 million. The charge of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides a sentence of up to 10 years, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

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. Valuable assistance was also provided by the FBI North Shore Gang Task Force, Bristol County and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Cannon and Philip Mallard of Lelling’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit are prosecuting the cases.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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Addendum

The following defendants have been charged:

	Defendant	Role
1	Michael Cecchetelli, King Merlin	East Coast Team, East Coast Overseer
2	Esther Ortiz, Queen India Meriden, CT	East Coast Team, East Coast Crown Council Chairwoman
3	Hector Manuel Vega, King Demon Britian, CT	East Coast Team, Crown Council Member, CT
4	Jorge Rodriguez, King G	State Team, Cacique Enforcer (Former)
5	Michael Marrero, King Clumsy	State Team, Enforcer Regional Officer (Former)
6	Francisco Lopez, King Cisco Chelsea, Mass	.State Team, Treasurer/Secretary
7	Gregory Peguero-Colon, King Trece Springfield, Mass	.State Team, Crown Council Chairman
8	Juan Liberato, King Prodigy Haverhill, Mass	.State Team, Inca (Former)
9	Angel Roldan, King Big-A and Nelty Lowell, Mass	.State Team, Cacique (Former) Enforcer (Former)
10	Frutuoso Barros, King Fruity	DOC, Supreme Regional Officer
11	Sandra Correa, Queen Dream Peabody, Mass	.DOC, Secretary (Former)
12	Shaun Harrison Rev	DOC, Member
13	Vincent Dzierwinski, King Vice	DOC, Member
14	Wilson Peguero, King Dubb Dorchester, Mass	.D5K, Inca
15	Alexis Peguero, King Lexi/Looney Dorchester, Mass	.D5K, Cacique
16	Matthew Palacios, King Nene	D5K, Enforcer
17	Steven Familia-Valdez, King Haze Mattapan, Mass	.D5K, Member
18	Dante Lara, King Nasty Providence, RI	D5K, Member
19	Robert Lara, King Rizz Chelsea, Mass	.D5K, Member
20	Angel Abymael Ortiz, King Abby Randolph, Mass	.D5K, Member
21	Angel Rodriguez, King Ace Dorchester, Mass	.D5K, Member Crown Council Chairman for Boston
22	Alexis Velasquez, King Booboo Dorchester, Mass	.MSB, Inca
23	Angel Calderon, King Bam	MSB, (Former) State Team Head of Security
24	Oscar Pena, King O-Block	D5K, Member
25	Jose Rodriguez, King Stutter New Bedford, Mass	.New Bedford, Inca
26	Orlando Santiago-Torres, King Landi	New Bedford, Cacique
27	Robert Avitabile a/k/a Bobby	New Bedford, Associate
28	Taliyah Barboza, Queen Taliyah New Bedford, Mass	.New Bedford, Member
29	Josue Carrasquillo, King Playboy Springfield, Mass	.New Bedford, Member
30	Michael Cotto, King Gordo New Bedford, Mass	.New Bedford, (Former) Regional Officer
31	Juan Figueroa, King Pun Dorchester, Mass	.New Bedford, Member
32	Issac Felix-Rivera, King Izzy	New Bedford, Member
33	Kevin Guadalupe, King Milly New Bedford, Mass	.New Bedford, Member
34	Shelton Johnson, King Shells New Bedford, Mass	.New Bedford, Member
35	Tyson Jorge, King Music	New Bedford, Member
36	Emanuel Lopez-Velez, King Manny	New Bedford, Probationary Member
37	Luis Mendez, King Primo	New Bedford, Member, Incarcerated
38	Raekwan Paris, King D-Bo	New Bedford, Member
39	Jayco Reyes-Smith, King Javy	Former New Bedford Member, now in North Carolina
40	Luis Santiago, King Tiny	New Bedford, Member, Incarcerated
41	Roberto Vargas, King Royalty	New Bedford, Member
42	Jose Vasquez, King Fearless	New Bedford, Member
43	Natanel Velazquez, King Nael New Bedford, Mass	.New Bedford, Member
44	Israel Rodriguez, King Imperial Lynn, Mass	.North Shore, Inca
45	Alfred Nieves, King Alfy Lowell, Mass	.Lowell, Inca
46	Marlon Rivera, King Pluto	Fitchburg, Member D5K, Founder
47	Ines Lugo, Queen China New Bedford, Mass	.New Bedford, Secretary
48	Jeremia Medina, King Sweepy New Bedford, Mass	.New Bedford, Enforcer
49	Bienvenido Nunez, King Apache Enfield, CT	State Team, Inca
50	Tanairy Ruiz, Queen Tanairy New Bedford, Mass	.New Bedford, Member
51	Xavier Valentin-Soto, King X	New Bedford, Member (Former) Cascique, Incarcerated
52	Joel Francisco, King Casper	Rhode Island, Member
53	Eric Thomas, King E	Rhode Island, Inca
54	Alvin Mojica, King Humble	Worcester, Inca
55	Sophia Velasquez, Queen Sophia	Fitchburg, Member
56	Dairon Rivera, King Mafia	Fitchburg, Member
57	Hector Adorno, King Gordo	Springfield, Member
58	Jesus Diaz, King Kiko	N. Shore, Member
59	Henry Caribe, King 40cal	N. Shore, Member
60	Jonathan Cassiano, King Legend	Springfield, Member
61	Antoine Goodson	Associate, gun supplier to gang
62	Derek Southworth	Associate, gun supplier to gang

⇐Previous SECOND SUSPECT IN LAWRENCE HOMICIDE ARRAIGNED Next⇒ Lawrence Man Charged in Recent Assault

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