GANGLAND GODFATHER

Defendants from the Maryland branch of the “Latin Kings” gang, a group with thousands of members largely based in Chicago and New York, face a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted, the US Justice Department said in a statement. “Today’s indictment alleges that the Latin Kings gang is an organized criminal enterprise with leaders and members who commit violent crimes,” said US Attorney Rod Rosenstein.The indictment charges that “from a date unknown to the present, the Latin Kings members conspired to commit attempted murders, robberies, witness tampering and arson to further their racketeering scheme,” the Justice Department said.The group is alleged to have been started in Maryland from the spring of 2007 by Miguel Cruz and Erick Roman, who named their “tribe” of the main gang the “Royal Lion Tribe of Maryland.”Thousands of members affiliated with the gang — officially named “Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation” — are said to be spread throughout the United States and Latin...

Burlington County Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi announced today that a Burlington County Grand Jury indicted three men for the August 16, 2008 shooting of two brothers – one fatally – in the parking lot of the Mount Laurel, N.J., Marriott. The Grand Jury indicted the following individuals on charges of Murder, Attempted Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose: Daniel Cruz, age 24, of North 27th Street in Camden, N.J.Richard Martinez, age 34, of Gibbons Court in Atco, N.J.Antonio K. Streater, 26, of Vine Street in Camden, N.J.The investigation revealed that on August 16 at approximately 10:15 p.m., Gabriel Figueroa and Luis Pedroza, who are brothers, exited the Marriott and were shot after being confronted by Cruz, Martinez and Streater in the parking lot. Figueroa was pronounced dead at Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Cherry Hill. Pedroza was shot in the shoulder and survived after being treated at Cooper University Medical Center in Camden. Fig...

Matthew "King Red Dog" Robey was sent to prison for ordering younger members of the gang to kill fellow gang member, 19-year-old Luis Quiroz, in December 2007. Quiroz was shot inside his car on Trailwood Lane and later died at UK Hospital. Latin Kings gang member was sentenced Thursday morning to a total of 21 years in prison for his part in a deadly shooting. Two others reputed gang members, Adrian Buenrostro and Isais Manual, were sentenced to three years each for their roles in the crime.

Fernando Vazquez, 25, of the 3100 block of South Keeler Avenue was charged in a federal complaint late last year with violating drug and firearms laws, the FBI said in a news release.FBI offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a man believed to be a high-ranking gang member in charge of overseeing cocaine distribution throughout Chicago.He is alleged to be a member of the Latin Kings and was among 40 gang members and associates charged in an investigation dubbed Operation Pesadilla, which targeted the Kings' leadership. "Vazquez is one of only four defendants who [are] still at large," the FBI said

13 arrests were made Friday at residences in Denville, Dover, Randolph, Rockaway, Victory Gardens and Wharton, as part of Gov. Jon S. Corzine's Strategy for Safe Streets and Neighborhoods, a statewide initiative targeting criminal street gangs. More than 100 officers from 18 agencies participated in the 6 a.m. bust, which was the third phase of an "aggressive mission to cripple street gangs' command structure by taking down leaders and high-ranking associates," county Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi said during a news conference Monday afternoon.Since August, Morris authorities have arrested 32 individuals from Morris and Essex counties on 286 charges, and seized $1.35 million in cocaine and heroin and 33 firearms, including assault rifles and high-powered weapons."It's a hit-them-when-they-are-down philosophy. We used a variety of undercover infiltration methods, changing things up like a boxer so they did not become accustomed to our methods of operation,...

There are still major gangs operating in the city—the Latin Kings, the Vice Lords, and the Insane Deuces—along with many smaller gang factions. They don't control territory like inner-city gangs. Instead, they usually run drugs out of ordinary-looking homes and businesses. Unlike inner-city gangs who frequently dabble in protection rackets, the gangs here generally leave local businesses alone. Part of the reason for that, law enforcement officers say, is that Aurora's retail scene consists mostly of big-box stores and national franchises rather than mom and pop establishments, which are more susceptible to extortion. Nationwide, gauging the true scope of the gang problem is difficult, chiefly because law enforcement lacks a common definition of a gangster or what makes a particular crime gang-related. The FBI estimates that there are about 785,000 gang members in the country belonging to some 26,500 different gangs in 3,400 communities. That estimate excludes outlaw motorcycle...

Fransisco Rangel, who they say has a Sur 13 emblem tattooed on his cheek., wanted for what officers say was a gang-related slaying, jumped out of his car in the middle of the town and began firing at pursuing deputies with an assault rife.His spray of bullets killed a passenger in a nearby car - Candelario Lagunes, a 58-year-old grandfather. In the fast and furious fusillade, one deputy was forced to fire through his windshield as the assailant approached.The toll could have been even higher. The gunman's shooting was so indiscriminate that deputies later found holes in a traffic light.The rampage paralyzed the normally peaceful East Hillsborough town. Schools were locked down. City officials canceled the annual Christmas parade scheduled that evening.Fortunately, Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputies soon caught the suspect, Fransisco Rangel, who they say has a Sur 13 emblem tattooed on his cheek.The terrifying event underscores the danger gangs pose to our community.Make no ...

Twenty-five suspected Spanish Cobra gang members arrested Wednesday morning now face federal drug and gun charges, while six more are being sought as fugitives. Those being sought as fugitives are: -- Ernesto Vargas, 22, of 1055 N. St. Louis Ave.; -- Daniel Bonilla, 25, of 2544 N. Harding Ave.; -- Erick Brito, 27, of 2526 W. Cortez St.; -- Taki Spencer, 28, of 1017 N. Rockwell St.; -- Gilberto Vargas, 20, of 3907 W. Armitage Ave.; and -- Chauvet Stiggers, 22, of 8000 S. Kedvale Ave. In all, 31 people face state or federal charges, according to a release from the FBI. Federal drug charges, including cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana distribution, were lodged against 18 suspects, while and 13 more face state drug and gun charges, according to the release. The charges are the culmination of a two-year investigation called "Operation Snake Charmer," a cooperation between local, state and federal law enforcement to break up the hierarchy of Chicago drug trafficking street gangs...

The Spanish branch of the Latin Kings was launched in 2000 by the young Ecuadorian Eric Velastegui, known as King Wolverine, who is now serving a prison sentence for rape. The Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation was initially formed to help and defend Latin American immigrants in the Chicago area of the United States in the 1940s. Its members later became involved in violent crimes. US leaders of the Latin Kings visiting Spain, however, have downplayed the group's violent reputation, and evidence from the north-eastern region of Catalonia suggests that such gangs have the potential of being transformed into constructive social forces. The Latin Kings' big rival in Spain are the Netas, a gang founded in the prisons of Puerto Rico in the 1970s. Other gangs include Dominican Don't Play (DDP), many of whose members come from the Dominican Republic. The Madrid DDP has begun to sell drugs and acquired firearms, the daily El Pais reported. Recently, evidence has even emerged of t...

All four are at the Floyd County Jail. Munoz, Cruz-Aranda and Delgado-Ayala are accused of dealing cocaine. Funes-Maderas is accused of trafficking cocaine. “It’s a significant arrest. They are significant traffickers,” Allen said. “But they’re one of many out there, unfortunately.” One of the four men arrested in New Albany Tuesday, accused of dealing cocaine, is involved in the notorious gang Latin Kings, according to Michael Allen, resident agent in charge at Louisville’s DEA office.He said the other three are at least affiliated with the gang and possibly members too.Armando Munoz, 19, who lives in Columbus, Ind., is the suspected gang member. He is the only legal resident of the United States out of the four.Two of the illegal residents — Jose L. Cruz-Aranda, 23, and Julio C. Funes-Maderas, 27 — live in Clarksville, in the Hamlet Apartments. Funes-Maderas also has a home in Louisville, off Preston Highway, according to Allen. The third, Jorge Delgado-Ayala, 30, lives in Columbus. ...

Latin Kings and Queens Nation are unlike any gang ever seen The gang's Buffalo chapter holds regular meetingsand requires members to pay dues, according to police. The dues are $5 a week for members who don't sell drugs and $10 to $20 for those who do. The Latin Kings have their own prayers, religion, constitution and bylaws. The book outlining their code of conduct is hundreds of pages long. Members who don't follow the rules receive a brutal beating that can last up to five minutes. "You are not to put God, religion, family or friends before the [Latin King] nation," reads one of the gang's rules. Homosexuals, gamblers and users of hard drugs are not welcome, the rules also state. The sale of hard drugs, however, is allowed. "It's the most organized gang we've ever seen here," said James Jancewicz, an FBI agent with the Buffalo Safe Streets Task Force. "The Mafia has all kinds of traditions, but they aren't this structured." T...

Arrested by ICE agents earlier this week was Valentin Sierra-Martinez, a 20-year-old "Norteño-14" gang member. Arrested July 14 in Elgin, Ill., Sierra-Martinez is an illegal alien from Mexico with prior criminal convictions for residential burglary, domestic battery, possessing drug paraphernalia, and knowingly damaging property. He remains in ICE custody pending deportation to Mexico. ICE agents also arrested 23-year-old Mauricio Vega-Cruz July 14 in West Chicago. Vega-Cruz, a self-admitted member of the 18th Street gang, was twice deported to Mexico in 2007 and illegally re-entered the U.S. He has criminal convictions in Arizona for misconduct involving weapons and drug paraphernalia, as well as arrests for drugs, aggravated assault, and discharging a firearm in city limits. Vega-Cruz remains in ICE custody pending removal to Mexico. Of the 49 men arrested, 42 had criminal histories; some of their convictions and arrests include: drunken driving, drug possession, aggravated...