In a significant blow to the Latin Kings gang, a former member has been sentenced to time served and three years of supervised release for racketeering conspiracy.
Josue Carrasquillo, also known as ‘King Playboy,’ was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel after pleading guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy.
The Latin Kings are a violent criminal enterprise with thousands of members across the United States, adhering to a national manifesto and employing an internal judiciary and sophisticated communication systems to maintain their hierarchy.
Carrasquillo participated in the gang’s violent acts and distributed controlled substances on behalf of the organization, according to court documents.
The sentence comes as part of a larger operation that has seen 62 leaders, members, and associates of the Latin Kings charged with racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy, and firearms charges. Carrasquillo is the 60th and final defendant to be sentenced in this case, with two remaining defendants still at large.
The effort was led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, Massachusetts Department of Correction, and New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira. The Bristol and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices also provided valuable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard prosecuted the case as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation, which targets high-level criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven approach.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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