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New York Latin Kings Leader Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison
Diego Mateo, a founding member of New York’s largest Latin Kings set known as the Black Mob, was sentenced to 27 years in prison for his role in the gang’s narcotics trafficking and violent activities.
Mateo, 46, of the Bronx, New York, pled guilty on February 23, 2022, to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute narcotics. In connection with his guilty plea, Mateo stipulated to his involvement in multiple acts of violence, including the November 18, 2012, shooting at a gang rival’s funeral and a 2016 arson of a commercial wedding venue in Connecticut.
Mateo was the highest-ranking member of the Black Mob, which had approximately 300 members. He founded the gang in 2002 and grew it into the largest Latin Kings set in the New York area, with a power base built on massive amounts of drug trafficking and a reputation for violence. The fear and power wielded by the Black Mob amplified Mateo’s own personal reputation, making him, at one point, the highest-ranking Latin King in the entire East Coast.
Under Mateo’s leadership, the Black Mob committed numerous acts of violence, including multiple arsons and a shooting at a gang rival’s funeral. The gang also distributed and possessed narcotics, including heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine. In addition to Mateo, 17 other members and associates of the Black Mob were charged with racketeering offenses, narcotics conspiracy, and firearms offenses in December 2019. Seven additional members and associates were charged in April 2021.
The sentences of the Black Mob leadership have included Carmelo Velez (228 months in prison), Christopher Rodriguez (210 months in prison), Angel Lopez (240 months in prison), Luis Sepulveda (180 months in prison), Emmanuel Bonafe (216 months in prison), Mark Woods (228 months in prison), William Gonzalez (204 months in prison), Alberto Borges (204 months in prison), Ricardo Ricuarte (168 months in prison), Juan Hernandez (192 months in prison), Raul Cuello (168 months in prison), and Paul Cuello (168 months in prison).
In addition to the prison term, Mateo was sentenced to five years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City Police Department in bringing Mateo and the Black Mob leadership to justice.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Mateo will begin serving his sentence immediately.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Organized Crime|Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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