Chinua Shepperson, Racketeering, Murder, Robbery, Firearms, Maryland 2011

WASHERINGTON – In a shocking turn of events, Chinua Shepperson, aka Nu, NuNu, and King Nu, has been convicted of racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, robbery, using a gun during a crime of violence, and murder resulting from the use of a gun during a crime of violence.

The conviction was announced by 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 (ATF) – Baltimore Field Division; Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department; 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.

Shepperson, a 28-year-old Washington, D.C. resident, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams scheduled sentencing for June 17, 2011, at 9:30 a.m.

According to court documents, the Latin Kings is a violent street gang with thousands of members across the country and overseas. The Latin Kings have a detailed and uniform 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.

Shepperson conspired with other Latin Kings members to engage in gang activities from a date unknown until November 2009. Specifically, evidence presented at trial showed that on December 14, 2007, Shepperson and other gang members participated in the armed robbery of a prostitute at a motel in Laurel, Md. In addition, evidence showed that on April 25, 2008, Shepperson conspired with other gang members to rob John Realpe Montoya of cocaine, and fatally shot him behind the Marylander Condominiums in Langley Park, Md.

Shepperson is currently being held without bond. The court has scheduled a sentencing hearing for June 17, 2011. The defendant’s lawyers have not commented on the case.

The Latin Kings is a brutal gang that uses violence to achieve its ends. With Shepperson’s conviction, all 19 defendants charged in this investigation have been held to account. Our deliberate approach to prosecuting the Latin Kings and other gangs is taking violent offenders off our streets, and working to make our communities safer.

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