A former enforcer for the Latin Kings gang, who authorities say was concerned in violent assaults and shootings concentrating on rivals, has been sentenced to greater than 12 years in jail, federal prosecutors stated.
Orlando Santiago-Torres, 27, an enforcer for the New Bedford chapter of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation, was accountable for planning violence, instilling self-discipline and organizing safety at residences from which the gang distributed medication, prosecutors stated in an announcement.
“As a leader of the New Bedford Chapter of the Latin Kings, Santiago-Torres engaged in at least three shootings, two brutal gang beatings, and dealt drugs, destroying any sense of safety on this city’s streets,” Joseph Bonavolonta, head of the FBI’s Boston workplace stated in an announcement Friday.
The Latin Kings are a violent nationwide gang that distributes medication to generate income and engages in violence to additional its affect and to guard its turf, prosecutors stated.
In one incident in July 2019, Santiago-Torres fired a number of photographs at rival gang members as they fled and in one other case in September 2019, he participated in a capturing through which a sufferer was struck by gunfire and shell casings have been linked to a gun recovered from his condominium. Santiago-Torres was additionally accused of dragging a sufferer out of a automobile and beating him in November 2019.
“He actively led and promoted violence in order to instill fear among his adversaries and further the illicit influence of the New Bedford Chapter of the Latin Kings,” U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins stated in an announcement. He then boasted about his actions on-line and made extra threats, she stated.
Santiago-Torres was amongst 62 reputed gang leaders, members and associates indicted in December 2019 and he’s the 59th to be sentenced, prosecutors stated. He pleaded responsible in June to federal racketeering and drug expenses.
“The amount of teamwork required to indict and prosecute 62 individuals under racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and firearms charges is hard to fathom. I commend my predecessor U.S. Attorney (Andrew) Lelling for spearheading this effort and I am proud to finish the job he started,” Rollins stated.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”
