Brandon Smith, Latin Kings Leader, Maryland 2023

BRANDON SMITH, 26, PLEADS GUILTY TO PARTICIPATING IN LATIN KINGS RACKETEERING ENTERPRISE IN MARYLAND

WASHINGTON – Brandon Smith, aka “Little One” and “King Little One,” 26, of Hyattsville, Md., pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise, in connection with his gang activities as a member and leader of the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (Latin Kings).

According to Smith’s plea agreement, the Latin Kings is a violent street gang with thousands of members across the country and overseas. The Latin Kings have a detailed organizational structure, which is outlined – along with various “prayers,” codes of behavior, and rituals – in a written “manifesto” widely distributed to members throughout the country. Members of the Latin Kings are also traditionally given “King Names” or “Queen Names,” which are names other than their legal names, by which they are known to members of the gang and others.

At the local level, groups of Latin Kings are organized into “tribes,” including the Royal Lion Tribe, MOG, Sun Tribe and UTL. According to court documents, Smith was a member of the MOG and UTL Tribes in Maryland, joining the MOG Tribe in January 2009.

Smith attended Latin King meetings where dues were collected from members and gang business was discussed, and he communicated with Latin King members and associates by phone and through the internet. In his plea agreement, Smith admitted that he and other Latin King members and associates from Maryland traveled to New York City on Jan. 16, 2009, to attend a Latin King meeting at the Amazura Night Club in Queens, New York.

Following the meeting, as Smith and other Latin King members were standing in front of the Amazura, a car pulled up in front of the club and a man opened fire yelling “Mara, Mara!” (referring to rival gang MS-13). Smith admitted that he returned fire, emptying his 9mm semi-automatic Taurus. During the shooting, four Latin Kings were shot, as was a limousine driver, who was driving by and was struck in the leg by the cross-fire.

Smith also admitted that he and several Latin King members and associates went to a residence in Wheaton, Md., on Jan. 31, 2009. Smith, the enforcer for the MOG tribe at the time, ordered an individual into the basement laundry room and ordered him to make the Latin King crown sign with his hands, while two other Latin Kings held the individual at gunpoint.

From late in the evening on Jan. 31, 2009, and continuing into the early morning hours of Feb, 1, 2009, Smith threatened the individual, pacing in front of him with a knife, and telling the individual not to “drop” the crown (move his hands from the crown position). Smith admitted that at one point, he slashed the individual across the face, stating that he wanted to see the individual “leaking” on the floor and that the individual was going to leave the house in a body bag.

Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Theresa R. Stoop of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Baltimore Field Division; Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County, Md., Department of Police; Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy; Interim Chief Mark Magaw of the Prince George’s County Police Department; and Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks announced the guilty plea.

No sentence was available in the provided source.

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