Related Federal Cases
- Botsvynyuk Brothers Guilty in Human Trafficking Ring · Pennsylvania
- Former Truck Driver Vickers Guilty of Sex Trafficking Minors · Pennsylvania
- Allentown Pimp Cody Indicted in Brutal Sex Trafficking Ring · Pennsylvania
- Youngstown Heroin Ring Busted: 53 Face Charges · Pennsylvania
- Homestead Heroin Network Hit With New Charges · Pennsylvania
Latin King Sentenced to 15 Years for Cocaine and Heroin Trafficking
HARRISBURG – On May 5, 2016, a federal judge sentenced Daniel Pacheco-Morales, a 44-year-old York man, to 15 years in prison for his involvement in the importation and distribution of cocaine and heroin in York County.
According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, Pacheco-Morales was a key figure in the Latin King Street Gang, a violent and ruthless organization that terrorized York for years. The gang’s activities were the focus of a multi-year investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police and the York County Drug Task Force.
The investigation, which began on February 6, 2013, resulted in the arrest of over 100 individuals, including many high-ranking members of the Latin King Street Gang. Pacheco-Morales was one of 15 individuals indicted for leadership roles in the heroin and cocaine trafficking operation.
Pacheco-Morales’s sentence is the culmination of a lengthy and complex case. He pleaded guilty on April 6, 2015, to conspiracy to distribute heroin from 2011 to 2013. He also admitted to participating in a larger conspiracy to distribute heroin throughout York County.
Other defendants, including Angel Mendez-Castro, Christian Mendez-Castro, Hector Castro-Padro, and several others, were also sentenced in connection with the Latin King Street Gang’s activities. Their sentences ranged from 5 years to 15 years in prison.
Pacheco-Morales’s attorney had attempted to withdraw his guilty plea, but the court denied the request. The judge in the case, U.S. District Court Judge Yvette Kane, cited the violence associated with Pacheco-Morales’s activities and his long history of drug trafficking as factors in her decision to impose a 15-year sentence.
The case against the Latin King Street Gang is a significant victory for law enforcement in York County. The gang’s activities had a devastating impact on the community, and their prosecution sends a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated.
Pacheco-Morales is the latest defendant to be sentenced in connection with the Latin King Street Gang’s activities. His case serves as a reminder of the importance of ongoing efforts to combat organized crime and keep our communities safe.
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
