District of Massachusetts WORCESTER, MA A Worcester man identified by federal prosecutors as a local Latin Kings gang leader was sentenced on drug distribution charges Wednesday. Officers seized the three stash houses Thursday morning as part of a federal operation that led to charges against more than 60 alleged Latin Kings members, including at least 46 from. Mojica, who went by the name "King Humble," was one of 62 people arrested on Dec. 5 when federal and local police executed 31 search warrants across 24 locations, the culmination of a five-year RICO Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act investigation into the gang. Please enter valid email address to continue. The judge has scheduled sentencing for October 28. Springfield:413-785-0235 BOSTON - A leader of the Worcester Chapter of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation ("Latin Kings") pleaded guilty today to drug distribution charges. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Bonavolonta said the gang distributed drugs and shot music videos boasting about their exploits from the New Bedford, Massachusetts, properties while the property owner helped launder money and conceal their operations. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS "King Demon," a Crown Council member from Connecticut. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Federal authorities said Mojica sold about 14 grams of cocaine to a person who was cooperating with investigators. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. SPRINGFIELD When Michael Cecchetelli made a bid for pretrial release after being indicted on illegal weapons charges in 2005, a federal magistrate judge denied the move, ruling Cecchetelli's role. The interaction was captured by audio/video. I had 5 Latin Kings line up and lay pipe in my rancid venereal diseased pass . Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Similar to its predecessor, they offer made to order tacos, burritos, nachos, and quesadillas, with choices of meats including birria (shredded beef), asada (steak), barbacoa (shredded beef), al pastor (marinated pork), pollo (chicken . They're part of a federal sweep last year of 60 "active Latin Kings Chapters" operating in Boston, New Bedford, Springfield, Lynn, Salem, Chelsea, Lowell, Lawrence, Worcester and Fitchburg. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The majority of Thursday morning's arrests took place across Massachusetts, but some gang members and associates were also arrested in Rhode Island and Connecticut, Bonavolonta said. 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Those arrested include leaders, members and associates of the Almighty Latin Kings and . LEOMINSTER -- Police on Friday morning were looking for an allegedly "high-ranking" member of the Latin Kings street gang when a search of his Jerome Place home turned up heroin and drug packaging, according to a report from Detective Joseph L. Siciliano Jr.. ), First published on December 5, 2019 / 5:05 PM. The investigation had been ongoing over the last four years. The Latin Kings is a gang suspected of having a nationwide network headquartered in Chicago. Mojica, also known by the name "King Humble," was arrested in December 2019. WORCESTER - Alvin Mojica of Worcester was one of sixty-two arrested today across Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut for charges related to involvement in the Latin Kings. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. A leader of the Worcester Chapter of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation has been sentenced to time served for drug distribution in connection to Operation Throne Down.. The government recommended a sentence of 18 months incarceration. 32-year-old Alvin "King Humble" Mojica got time served (approximately seven months) and three years of supervised release. Among those arrested is Michael Cecchetelli, a 40-year-old Springfield, Massachusetts resident with ties to the Genovese crime family who oversaw the gang's operations from Massachusetts down to Florida, according to Joseph Bonavolonta, head of the FBI's Boston office. All rights reserved (About Us). Authorities say Shaun Harrison was a full-fledged Latin Kings member who continued his gang activity behind bars, helping the gang try to identify police informants. BOSTON A Fitchburg man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to his role in a wide-ranging fentanyl, heroin, crack and cocaine trafficking conspiracy. Court documents allege that the gang uses drug distribution to generate. "King Demon," a Crown Council member from Connecticut. FBI Boston (@FBIBoston . In December, 62 leaders, members and associates of the Latin Kings were indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston on charges of racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and firearms offenses, all part of the Operation Throne Down" sting. Patch editor Dave Copeland contributed to this report. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel scheduled sentencing for Oct. 28, 2020. Last Updated March 23, 2021 1:17 PM. Music, arts and crafts and food are some of the main attractions of the festival, which has . "It will be extremely difficult for the gang to regroup in the region.". Mojica is the third person to plead guilty in the case. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23, First alleged Latin Kings leader in Operation Throne Down pleads guilty in federal court, More than 60 alleged East Coast Latin Kings members arrested in Operation Throne Down. The government asked for a sentence of 18 months, according to a statement from the office of Andrew Lelling, U.S. Attorney for the district of Massachusetts. BOSTON (AP) More than 60 members of the Latin Kings have been arrested on federal racketeering, drug and firearms charges, including the leaders of the street gang's East Coast operations,. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Alvin Mojica, also known as King Humble, has been sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to time served, which was about seven months, and three years of supervised release. Mojica is the second defendant to be sentenced in this case. During the plea proceedings, Mojica admitted that in May 2019 he distributed just under 14 grams of cocaine to a cooperating witness in an audio/video recorded transaction. Boston, MA 02210, Boston:617-748-3100 A racketeering indictment against more than 60 defendants identified as Latin King leaders by the FBI was unsealed on Dec. 5, resulting in dozens of arrests linked to allegations of murder. An official website of the United States government. Lock Secure .gov websites use HTTPS The highest-ranking member arrested was Michael Cecchetelli, of Springfield, who went by the name "King Merlin" and oversaw the east coast operations of the Latin Kings. A locked padlock As alleged in court documents, the gang uses drug distribution to generate revenue, and engages in violence against witnesses and rival gangs to further its influence and to protect its turf. WORCESTER, MA A man whom federal authorities say was the leader of the Worcester Latin Kings gang pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a drug distribution charge, which could mean a jail sentence of . As alleged in court documents, the gang uses drug distribution to generate revenue, and engages in violence against witnesses and rival gangs to further its influence and to protect its turf.. As alleged in court documents, the gang uses drug distribution to generate revenue, and engages in violence against witnesses and rival gangs to further its influence and to protect its turf. In July 2020 . An official website of the United States government. According to the U.S. District Attorney's Office, Mojica was the leader of the Worcester chapter of the Massachusetts Almighty king and Queen Nation [Latin Kings]. / CBS Boston. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Boston Office: Boston, MA 02210, Boston:617-748-3100 Federal authorities say that Alvin. $MMT = window.$MMT || {}; $MMT.cmd = $MMT.cmd || [];$MMT.cmd.push(function(){ $MMT.display.slots.push(["032942e8-05a9-496b-9304-a0f70d6ab296"]); }), $MMT = window.$MMT || {}; $MMT.cmd = $MMT.cmd || [];$MMT.cmd.push(function(){ $MMT.display.slots.push(["e8784850-8cc0-403e-ad08-582fede53c10"]); }). Mojica is the third defendant to plead guilty in this case. Bristol County Jail and House of Correction had 41 Latin Kings members and dozens of inmates. The government recommended a sentence of 18 months incarceration. He also said Thursday's indictment includes a former Boston high school dean already serving a prison sentence for shooting a student he'd recruited to deal drugs in the school. This will be the first time the festival has been held outside since 2019. Authorities said they used some of the. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. The Latin Kings have also grown to become the largest gang in Massachusetts prisons, with an estimated 400 members, including leaders who face charges for continuing to coordinate criminal activity outside the prison, authorities said. Mojica was arrested and charged in December 2019, at which time he was the leader of the Worcester based Chapter of the Latin Kings. Applications for Worcester Technical High School Close this Week. Alvin Mojica, aka "King Humble", pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of cocaine in July 2020. The United States Attorney's Office says Mojica was also known as "King Humble. Official websites use .gov The Latin Kings members sold cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl and marijuana to earn money for the gang and pay their dues, according to the indictment. (Shutterstock) WORCESTER, MA A Worcester man identified by federal prosecutors as a local Latin Kings gang leader was sentenced on drug distribution charges Wednesday. Mojica is the third defendant to plead guilty in the case. The Latin Kings are a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. A lock ( 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. A 31-year-old Fitchburg man pleaded guilty in federal court to several drug trafficking charges related to distribution of cocaine and fentanyl. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. BOSTON (AP) More than 60 members of the Latin Kings have been arrested on federal racketeering, drug and firearms charges, including the leaders of the street gang's East Coast operations, authorities announced Thursday. All Rights Reserved. Mojica is the second defendant sentenced in this case. Worcester:508-368-0100. The deadline for student applications to attend Worcester Technical High School for the 2023 - 2024 school year is Wednesday, March 15. The 30th Latin American Festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 20 at what has become its traditional spot on Worcester Common behind City Hall. Valuable assistance was also provided by the FBI North Shore Gang Task Force and the Bristol County and Suffolk County District Attorneys Offices. The Latin Kings, the second-largest gang, has at least 30 members at a time in the jail. 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. Admission is free. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nations illegal drug supply. Holy Cross football plays a single game at Polar Park for the third stratigh season in 2023, this year host the Harvard University Crimson in September . The Latin Kings are a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. ___This story has been updated to correct the number of arrests to more than 60, instead of more than 90.