Fitchburg Latin Kings member pleads guilty to federal drug charges
BOSTON A woman who conspired with a member of the Fitchburg Chapter of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (Latin Kings) could face 20 years in prison after pleading guilty Thursday to drug distribution charges.
Sophia Velasquez, 28, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl after being charged following a multi-agency task force through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies..
Velasquez admitted to conspiring with Dairon Rivera, who uses the alias King Mafia, to sell 17 grams of fentanyl to a witness who was cooperating with investigators. That transaction that was recorded on audio and video.
A New Bedford man who was a regional officer for the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation pleaded guilty Thursday to racketeering charges after admitting in court to his part in several instances of gang-related violence.
Michael Cotto, known as “King Gordo,” 26, once a member of the New Bedford Chapter of the Latin Kings, admitted to participating in the gang s illegal drug business and to committing a variety of violent acts. One such act was a February 2018 beating, known as a “termination,” of an associate suspected of cooperating with law enforcement. The victim was found by New Bedford Police bleeding from his injuries and transported to the hospital, according to a news release from the Office of U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling.
A convicted New Bedford gang member who shot at rivals has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison as part of a federal law enforcement effort.
Luis Santiago, also known as “King Tiny,” 22, was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to 46 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In September, Santiago pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy.
Santiago is a former member of the New Bedford Chapter of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation, and admitted to his role in the shooting, according to a news release from the office of U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling.
A former member of the Latin Kings in the Massachusetts Department of Correction Chapter pleaded guilty this week to racketeering charges.
Sandra Correa, or “Queen Dream,” 35, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, or RICO conspiracy. A sentencing date will be scheduled at a later time, according to a media release from the office of U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling.
Federal prosecutors say the Latin Kings bring disputes and related gang violence into jails and prisons. As a top member responsible for activities behind bars, Correa transmitted information to and from incarcerated gang members on behalf of the organization. This information included identities of victims targeted for violence in the jails and prisons, the locations of incarcerated members, the standing of certain individuals with the gang, and the status of disputes and alliances with other gangs, Lelling s office said.