Over 60 gang members arrested, missing children found from Fall River, New Bedford

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. Charging documents are available here.

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.

During one of the arrests in New Bedford this morning, FBI Boston recovered two missing children: a 14-year-old boy from New Bedford, and a 16-year-old boy from Fall River.

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 following defendants have been charged:

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