More than 60 members of the Latin Kings are facing federal charges after the FBI and other agencies took part in a wide-spread bust on Thursday morning, according to officials.
Members of the gang's East Coast leadership were among those charged in what Joseph Bonavolonta, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Boston division, said was the "largest takedown" in their office's history.
The bust, called "Operation Throne Down," was carried out after nearly four years of infiltration by law enforcement, who recorded high-level conversations through informants and social media posts that could implicate the members, according to Boston.com.
Over 650 law enforcement agents started making arrests around 4:00 a.m. on Thursday that saw 62 alleged gang members charged. The charges vary from drug trafficking and firearms abuses to RICO conspiracy. To arrest the more dangerous suspects, 10 SWAT teams were deployed by the North Shore Gang Task Force.
Nine of them are in custody, while eight are now fugitives, according to the outlet.
Gang members were reportedly monitored on social media wearing colors of the Latin Kings, flashing gang signs and rapping about drugs or murder in a series of YouTube rap videos. Other videos were reportedly shot at locations where members of the gang were murdered and officials believe some of the lyrics mentioned shooting other gang members, according to Boston.com
Law enforcement also gained access to three confidential sources they say helped them take down the gang leadership.
“To get at gang leadership, you almost always need a highly placed cooperating source,” Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling said at a press conference. “If you don’t have that, it’s very difficult to get the leaders.”
Lelling said they gained an understanding of the gang's violent ways gradually throughout the investigation.
"Time after time, we uncovered their planning of brazen acts of violence against those who ran afoul of the gang's manifesto and constitution," he said, according to the outlet.
During Thursday's arrests in Massachusetts, police seized dozens of firearms, including machine guns and sawed-off shotguns, as well as six cars, six motorcycles, three jet skis, an ATV, drugs and $38,000. They also recovered two missing children, a 14-year-old boy from New Bedford and a 16-year-old boy from Fall River.
“Having taken out most of the leadership, it’s extremely difficult for the gang to regroup in this region” any time soon, Lelling told Boston.com. “It puts us a step ahead of them regionally -- for once.”
“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 U.S. attorney’s office said.
The suspected East Coast leader of the Latin Kings, Michael Cecchetelli, aka “King Merlin,” of Springfield, is among those charged. Cecchetelli has the title of Supreme East Coast Regional Overseer, Lelling said, and is the main conduit between Latin King East Coast members and the national leadership.
“Under Cecchetelli’s leadership, the influence of the Latin Kings has grown throughout Massachusetts, leading to an increase in shootings and violence in our cities and towns,” Lelling said.
Two Rhode Island men were arrested as part of this operation, including Joel Francisco.
Francisco, also known as “King Casper,” is already facing a murder count for the October stabbing of a man inside a hookah lounge in Providence.
In documents unsealed Thursday, prosecutors say Cecchetelli tried to help Francisco escape to Mexico after the murder.
Francisco was arrested in Texas and is in custody on the murder charge and as a probation violator.
Lelling said 31 search warrants at 24 locations were also executed in various locations throughout Massachusetts but focused mostly on locations in New Bedford.
“Violence and a known pattern of witness intimidation have emboldened the Latin Kings across Massachusetts, but especially in New Bedford,” Lelling added. “Gang-related violence in New Bedford spiked during the summer and fall of 2019 with Latin King members brazenly issuing threats to rival gangs over social media.”
FBI: Latin Kings, Gangster Disciples meet at Mount Carmel Society to negotiate deals and truces
A seemingly standard bar stemming from Springfield, Massachusetts called Society of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Club and Bar, or most locals call it Mount Carmel Society, is a bit of a hot topic now.
After 62 suspected members of the Latin Kings gang were arrested this Thursday after a four-year investigation by the FBI that linked the establishment to being a meeting grounds for gang members.
In a 190-page FBI affidavit, Springfield’s topically innocuous bar was labeled as a gangster’s paradise, so to speak.
One of the alleged gang members from Springfield is said to be the leader of this region and the conduit between each of the Eastern Region states and the Latin Kings national leadership in Chicago.
U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling made the following statement pertaining to the alleged criminal activity and hierarchy in the area:
“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.”
Authorities had managed to acquire a recording of the meeting that transpired at the Mount Carmel Society that day in June, detailed below is a portion of the transcript:
Present for this meeting were LIBERATO, F. LOPEZ, NUNEZ, CECCHETELLI, PEGUEROCOLON, and MARRERO. During the meeting, CECCHETELLI discusses an issue involving Victim 13 and discuss the fact that NIEVES the Inca of the Lowell Chapter wanted to issue a green light to kill Victim 13, the son of Victim 25. 183.
CECCHETELLI ruled on this matter stating, “we are not going to go looking for him,” because they cannot condone the killing of a son of a LATIN KINGS member.
However, CECCHETELLI then stated, “if a brother bumps into him on the street, we can’t tell that brother to stand down,” in essence affirming that the murder of Victim 13 has been approved.
Did you know that Law Enforcement Today has a private new home for those who support emergency responders and veterans? It’s called LET Unity, and it’s where we share the untold stories of those patriotic Americans. Every penny gets reinvested into giving these heroes a voice. Check it out today.
The FBI also reported that Mount Carmel was used as a site for a peace negotiation meeting between the New Bedford Chapter of the Latin Kings and the Gangster Disciples in February of this year. A piece of the 190-page document detailed the following about the alleged peace treaty between the rival gangs:
“There was at least one attempt to negotiate a peace between the New Bedford Chapter and Gangster Disciples. This negotiation took place on 2/23/19, at the Mount Carmel Social Club in Springfield, MA.
During this meeting members of the LATIN KINGS, including Jorge RODRIGUEZ, LIBERATO, PEGUERO-COLON, CALDERON, and CW-9 met with leaders of the Gangster Disciples in order to identify the cause of the rivalry, and address issues. 315.
During this discussion Jorge RODRIGUEZ indicates that the LATIN KINGS and Gangster Disciples should not be fighting or shooting one another and that they can both make money selling drugs.
Jorge RODRIGUEZ describes the situation on the ground in New Bedford Case 1:19-cr-10459-RWZ Document 12-1 Filed 12/05/19 Page 119 of 190 120 with respect to gang turf and that there is only one “set” of LATIN KINGS. “
The Latin Kings is considered the oldest and largest predominantly Latino gangs in the country.
Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
District of Massachusetts
Thursday, December 5, 2019
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.
Note: For Individual 's names and charges use the US DOJ Link at Top
These dudes are facing serious time up the river. There toast.
ReplyDeleteThat garbage don't belong on the streets, they can stay in the slammer forever.
DeleteNorteños also hot hit hard in Cali 50+ members decommissioned
Delete@2:16 dear sir I believe you forgot to mentioned that they have all been replaced already and the gang continous to operate as before.
DeleteNothing like dipshits rapping about their crimes and putting it out there on social media. It's called felony stupid. Enjoy your new 6x9 accommodations.
ReplyDeleteWhen the target just a certain group they only are doing ther rivals a favor because they have it a bit easier to get the drug business i think it’s a good thing to get ther rivals next or at the same time like that no other group has the power to control the streets
ReplyDeleteGood point, if that's the case then cops should just kill those mothafuckas on the streets, it's faster that way. They are nothing but garbage anyway.
DeleteRecovered 38K? Wow, Whitey Bulger probably carried more than that in his socks in his day.
ReplyDeleteWhitey got caught with way more than that 20 years later hidden in his walls of the condo in Cali. LK hide and launder money immediately after it comes in through legitimate businesses. They also keep the sects from knowing how they do it in case of a takedown like this. The compartamentalize operations to not link the sects with other sects. The trail will not lead back to Chicago. Also, they caught about 1/50th of east coast LK. This article makes it sound like they got the whole East Coast lol. They are alllll over Conneticut, NY, on and on. Another waste of money on the WOD.
DeleteMike de sects is the sects
DeletePretty sure these guys were making deals with cds and cds snitched on them
ReplyDelete8:13
DeleteMost likely the Flores twins are talking.
Remember they had beef with the Kings and are on their way out.
Jajaja
DeleteSame occurrences here in the US like that of gangs in Mexico. The only difference is that law enforcement agencies are convicting those offenders. Unlike those municipal officials from Mexico who turn a blind eye.
ReplyDeleteAmerican cities are engulfed with gangs. An estimated number of gang affiliated members in America today outnumber law enforcement by a large percentage. Heartbreaking that by not pulling together as a legitimate organization they can become politically empowered and motivated for social changes. Although an eyebrow of concern towards those political powers if that were to occur.
If there's one thing that scares any government,"it's numbers".
Again, such a shame that they prefer to engage in criminal activities than constructive benefits.
Law Enforcement fear Mexican gangs because of their ties to the cartels and some are former military. The US close proximity to Mexico
Deletemakes easy for LEO to get targeted 🎯 and dealt with when they disrespect. There are YouTube videos on this subject. Mexicans take organize crime and structure to a whole new level because of their Indigenous roots.
10:23.. I don't know what law enforcement u speak of. It's ALWAYS politics that stop them from doing their job properly.
Delete@ 11:28
DeleteRather conducting themselves in a professional manner than irate gorillas.
That's the problem. Glad my son has a dashcam video recorder in his car. This coming from the advice from family police officers.
They all OUTTA HERE. Have fun with that rico and conspiracy charge
ReplyDeleteNo one cares about Latin Kings.
ReplyDeleteObviously the law does
DeleteWow...arrested, and actually took them to jail. Didn't have to give em back. Mexico should take note. THATS how a sovereign nation handles criminals.
ReplyDeleteThe sad part is they get stronger and more organized in jail, the US should address that.
DeleteYes sir, well said.
DeleteMexico’s agencies aren’t ready for any of this work. That’s why it’s hard for many people to understand what AMLO is doing. In order to change all of their corruption needs to start at the top which is a president. From there it’s governor and all of the agencies. And so on. AMLO is not the solution to Mexico but he may be the start of it. Would take a few presidents to get Mexico on a better path. Dgo
Delete4:59 easy 75% of those arrested in this case are US citizens, no need to give them back to their imaginary country. Every single one of the arrested has been replaced, their operation was generating money. The beat goes on
DeleteSo they let members rap about stuff? I get needing a Constitution. But how isn't rap, Facebook,Twitter, and or not blending in,banned for members to do? I mean how is that allowed? Nothing makes one stand out more than rapping. Just do not get some people sometimes. Criminals rapping about their crimes sheesh.
ReplyDeleteEl Smarto
@ 504am Latin Kings like most street gangs don't get their power in smarts they get it by numbers.
DeleteThis isnt to say there are not smart Latin King gang members. There are but not many. They are mostly young street thugs. It doesn't surprise me a lot of them are rapping about their crimes but the few smart ones are not.
AMOR DE REY 🤴🏾
ReplyDeleteRey Zambada? He snitched on chapo
DeleteExcellent catch more criminals in the slammer
ReplyDeleteA cash machine for those profiteers running the penal system. Or a tax burden for taxpayers who oppose privatization of prisons.
DeleteTake your pick.
In the end nothing changes but handshakes from new individuals.
Awesome post Yaqui. My oldest son is a ER Surgeon in Chicago. He's told me some real horror stories about the Latin Kings there. I was happy that so many of them were taken down. Maybe they'll work on The Latin Kings in Chicago next, given they rule in Chicagoland. Thanks for this very important post and all the others you've posted. Peace.
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome.
DeleteIf you have anything you or your son can share pls send to Chivis email.
Wow, ER surgeon, hardcore.
You must be very proud of him.
Difference between east coast and Cali the east coast has like two big latino gangs...Cali has thousands of latino gangs so u always gotta be on your toes
ReplyDeleteForgot about these dudes back in the day they went harder now every east coast spanish dude who wants to bang tuens blood
ReplyDeleteThat's a fact..They and the Netas were running Rikers in the early 90's until the Bloods multiplied and next thing you know,and in very little time all the Latin gangsters were blood.
DeleteLatin kings number one enemy is their own gang, they are alwsys killing each other over politics. I daw a documentary and they said so themselves, they alesys gatta watch out for their "brothers" trying to kill them. Dumb dumbs
ReplyDeleteLatin Kings are not a simple 4 block gang. They are very organized and in several states. 18000 just in Chicagoland.
ReplyDeleteYeah 18000 and stupid as fuck.
DeleteThat’s a lot of bad guys. Good job, LEOs!
ReplyDeleteAs if law enforcement wasn't its own gang. Many just as corrupt by extorting money from drug dealers and businesses. Moreover, planting evidence for vested interest.
DeleteIt's like taking down 100 zetas, will that make a diference? He'll NO
ReplyDeleteLK are All over the east coast by the thousands, they will just get replaced in the next few days. That bust made many in that gang EAGER to LEAD A CREW.. Nothing will change
It makes a difference because if these arrests weren't made these guys would still be out on the streets committing crimes and making the gang stronger. Will it destroy the LKs? No but it does weaken them.
DeleteNothing will change, already replaced by other LK. The arrested ones were in they way bail out. Just a big show to get more tax money for the government.
ReplyDeleteThis does help in Massachusetts. They swept up the majority of the mass chapter
ReplyDeleteMexican gangs make Puerto Rican gangs look like amateurs
ReplyDelete