⏱ 4 min read
Westyn Lantigua, a 25-year-old member of the Lynn chapter of the Trinitarios gang, pleaded guilty to racketeering charges, including his role in two attempted murders, in a Boston federal court. The crimes took place in Lynn, Massachusetts, where Lantigua and other gang members targeted rival gangs and innocent bystanders. The guilty plea came after a lengthy investigation into the Trinitarios, a violent gang with thousands of members across the US. Lantigua’s arrest and charging in February 2025 were part of a larger crackdown on the gang’s activities.
The Trinitarios are known for their brutal tactics and strict hierarchy, with members adhering to a ‘Magna Carta’ that outlines the gang’s rules and codes of conduct. Lantigua’s involvement in the gang was well-documented, with photographs and videos showing him wearing Trinitarios beads and making gang signs. His participation in a June 2022 shooting outside a fast-food restaurant in Lynn was particularly egregious, with Lantigua firing numerous rounds from a fully automatic firearm at a gray vehicle occupied by two innocent female victims.
The shooting, which was captured on surveillance video, showed Lantigua’s white Mercedes driving past the restaurant’s drive-thru lane before parking across the street and waiting for the gray vehicle to leave. When the vehicle exited the parking lot, Lantigua got out of his car and opened fire, hitting both female victims and leaving the vehicle with 10 bullet holes. Responding officers found 15 9mm casings at the scene, and both victims survived the attack.
Lantigua’s guilty plea is a significant blow to the Trinitarios gang, which has been the subject of intense law enforcement scrutiny in recent years. With sentencing set for August 12, 2026, Lantigua faces the possibility of serious prison time for his crimes. The case is a reminder of the ongoing struggle against organized crime in Massachusetts and the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies in taking down violent gangs like the Trinitarios.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Organized Crime
- Defendant: Massachusetts
- Location: MA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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