BOSTON, Massachusetts – In a significant blow to the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (Latin Kings), a former Inca, or leader, of the organization has pleaded guilty to racketeering charges. Juan Liberato, 36, a/k/a ‘King Prodigy,’ has admitted to being the leader of the Latin Kings in Massachusetts.
The Latin Kings, a violent criminal enterprise with thousands of members across the United States, adheres to a national manifesto and employs an internal judiciary. The gang uses drug distribution to generate revenue and engages in violence against witnesses and rival gangs to further its influence and protect its turf.
Liberato pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel has scheduled sentencing for January 26, 2022. The RICO conspiracy charge carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.
The Latin Kings were the subject of a federal indictment in December 2019, which alleged racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy, and firearms charges against 62 leaders, members, and associates of the organization. Liberato is the 53rd defendant to plead guilty in the case.
The investigation into the Latin Kings was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and involved the FBI North Shore Gang Task Force, the Bristol County and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices, and the Massachusetts Department of Correction. The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation, which identified, disrupted, and dismantled the highest-level criminal organizations threatening the United States, provided valuable assistance in the case.
Liberato’s guilty plea is a significant victory for law enforcement and a major blow to the Latin Kings’ operations in Massachusetts. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of collaboration and the impact of organized crime on communities.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Organized Crime|Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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