37 MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATES OF ALMIGHTY LATIN KING/QUEEN NATION
NAMED IN FEDERAL AND STATE CHARGES

Boston, MA... State and federal law enforcement authorities today unsealed narcotics charges against 37 members and associates of the New Bedford Chapter of the Almighty Latin King/Queen Nation Street Gang (“Latin Kings”), including many in leadership positions.

United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan; C. Samuel Sutter, Bristol County District Attorney; Warren T. Bamford, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in New England; Colonel Mark F. Delaney, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Maureen Walsh, Chairwoman of the Massachusetts State Parole Commission; Thomas Hodgson, Bristol County Sheriff; and Chief Ronald Teachman of the New Bedford Police Department, announced today federal and state charges against 37 individuals for narcotics distribution and other drug-related crimes.

The charges follow “Operation Kingfish,” a year long investigation of drug trafficking by members and associates of the New Bedford Chapter of the Latin Kings. Twelve indictments were unsealed in federal court charging a total of fifteen people with distributing crack cocaine. In state court, the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office charged 22 defendants with state drug crimes.

“Federal, state and local law enforcement have maintained a persistent focus on the illegal activities of street gangs operating in Massachusetts and will continue to do so long as gangs attempt to establish themselves and conduct illegal activities involving drugs and violence,” stated U.S. Attorney Sullivan. “Coordinated law enforcement efforts have recently resulted in the dismantling of the Latin Kings in Lawrence, Lowell, Springfield and Holyoke, as well the Immortal Outlaws and the Latin Gangsta’ Deciples in Lawrence. Today the focus is on toppling the Latin Kings organization in New Bedford. These arrests represent not an end to, but a continuation of, state-wide law enforcement efforts to arrest and prosecute gang members involved in illegal activities. Through these types of investigations and prosecutions, federal, state, and local law enforcement are committed to working together to help make our neighborhoods safe for law abiding citizens.”
“We at the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office are extremely enthusiastic about our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and about a heightened level of cooperation between all of the law enforcement agencies fighting crime in Bristol County,” said District Attorney Sam Sutter.“ “With the cooperation and determination that we have together, we will make our communities safer.”

“This represents another step in an ongoing effort to go on offense, and to strike back against gang violence. By bringing together resources from the law enforcement community, a message is sent to gangs that their criminal enterprise and the violence they perpetrate will not be tolerated,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Bamford.

The case was investigated by the Southeastern Massachusetts Gang Task Force (SEMGTF), an Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI's) Safe Streets Task Force, consisting of personnel from the FBI; Massachusetts State Police Gang Unit; New Bedford Police Department; and the Massachusetts State Parole Board. In addition, the investigation was assisted by the DEA; ATF; Bristol County Sheriff's Office; Plymouth, Essex and Middlesex County Sheriff's Departments; Massachusetts Department of Corrections; and task force personnel from the FBI's Western Massachusetts and North Shore Gang Task Forces.

The federal cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys assigned to Sullivan's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Unit. The state cases are being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney's assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney's Office.

Press Contacts: Christina DiIorio-Sterling, U.S. Attorney's Office, (617) 748-3356
Gregg Miliote, Bristol County District Attorney's Office, (508) 997-0711
DEFENDANTS

The following defendants were named in federal indictments:

Indictment #1: Distribution of at least 5 grams of Cocaine Base.
1) JAVIER ORTIZ PEREZ, a/k/a “King Javier,” age 39, formerly of 466 Third Street, # 4S, Fall River, MA. Presently in custody in Orange County, Florida awaiting trial on unrelated charges.

2) FELIPE ORTIZ PEREZ, a/k/a “King Felipe,” age 41, of 12 Washington Street, New Bedford, MA

3) RICARDO NEGRON CABRERA, a/k/a “King Cano,” age 38, of 289 Hillman Street, New Bedford, MA

4) JUAN NOVA ROMAN, a/k/a “King Roman.” age 34, of 89 Linden Street, New Bedford, MA

Indictment #2: Distribution of at least 5 grams of Cocaine Base.

5) GUSTAVO FELICIANO, a/k/a “King Gustavo,” age 48, formerly of 23 Beetle Street, New Bedford., MA. Currently serving a sentence at the Bristol County House of Correction.

Indictment #3: Distribution of Cocaine Base;

6) GUILLERMO LUGO, a/k/a “King Gilly,” age 26, of 451 Maxwell Street, New Bedford, MA.

Indictment #4: Distribution of Cocaine Base.

7) ABRAHAM PEREZ, a/k/a“King Diamond,” age 55, of 11 Nye Street, New Bedford, MA

Indictment #5: Distribution of Cocaine Base.

8) DIEGO PEREZ, a/k/a “King Loco,” age 20, of 1406 Pleasant Street, New Bedford, MA.

Indictment #6: Distribution of at least 5 grams of Cocaine Base.

9) JAVIER REYES, a/k/a “King Hollywood,” age 20, of 329 Fruit Street, New Bedford, MA.

Indictment #7: Distribution of at least 5 grams of Cocaine Base.

10) RAFAEL REYES, a/k/a “King Coffee,” age 28, of 171 Ashley Blvd., New Bedford, MA.

Indictment #8: Distribution of Cocaine Base.

11) JUAN SERRANO, a/k/a “King Poppy,” age 38, of 134 Tallman Street, New Bedford, MA.

Indictment #9: Distribution of Cocaine Base.

12) LUIS B. SOSTRE, a/k/a “King Luis,”, age 24, of 197 Ashley Blvd., New Bedford, MA.

Indictment #10: Distribution of Cocaine Base.

13) KIMBERLY STEADMAN, a/k/a “Queen Keisha,”, age 40, of 1868 County Street, New Bedford, MA.

Indictment #11: Distribution of Cocaine Base.

14) JORGE TORRES, a/k/a “King Jorge,”, age 20, of 63 Adams Street, New Bedford, MA.

Indictment #12: Distribution of Cocaine Base.

15) RAKEEM WALLER, a/k/a “King Taz,”, age 32, formerly of 40 Bullard Street, New Bedford, MA. Presently serving a sentence at MCI Concord.

If convicted, the maximum penalty for Distribution of Cocaine Base is 20 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine. The penalty for Distribution of at least 5 grams of Cocaine Base is a mandatory minimum of 5 years imprisonment and a maximum 40 years imprisonment and a $2 million fine.

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