Feds charge 62 in Latin Kings takedown; New Bedford was major target

By: Brittany Comak

Email: bcomak@abc6.com

Twitter: @BComakABC6

BOSTON, Mass. (WLNE) – Authorities are actively seeking eight members of the Latin Kings after arresting 54 members Thursday morning in a massive take-down of the gang.

The investigation, known as Operation Throne Down, began five years ago, and aimed to dismantle the leadership of the gang mostly in Massachusetts.

Federal agents also arrested gang members in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Jersey.

Nine of the people charged are already in prison on separate charges, including Joel Francisco. Francisco was arrested in October for allegedly stabbing and killing someone at Nara Lounge in Providence. Court documents show it was the head of the Latin Kings East Coast operation, Michael Cecchetelli, who helped Francisco evade police. He was eventually arrested in Texas.

The New Bedford chapter of the gang was a main focus of federal prosecutors. Of the 62 charged with racketeering and drug offenses, 19 of them are allegedly part of the New Bedford chapter. Officials say the gang’s presence in the city hurt it severely.

In court documents, authorities called the New Bedford chapter extremely violent, saying they “Actively engage in fights, feuds, shootings, attempted murder, and open brawls.”

“Violence, and a known pattern of witness intimidation, has emboldened the Latin Kings across Massachusetts, but especially in New Bedford,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling at a press conference Thursday.

Law enforcement officers also raided three buildings in the city. They say the gang used them as stash or ‘trap’ houses to store and sell drugs and guns.

“More recently, drug trafficking that appears to be organized and led by the Latin Kings, has severely impacted the City of New Bedford, Massachusetts – a community already reeling from the opioid epidemic, and now subjected to drug related shootings and feuds between rival gangs,” said Lelling.

According to court documents, the New Bedford chapter was heavily involved in dealing cocaine, which created a friction between them and rival gangs.

Officials saw a sharp spike in violence this past summer and fall.

“Time after time, we uncovered their planning of brazen acts of violence,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Joe Bonavolonta.

In October, 17-year-old Paul Collazo-Ruiz, who officials called a probationary member of the gang, was allegedly shot and killed by a rival gang near one of the ‘trap’ houses.

“So as the Latin Kings came to dominate the drug trade in New Bedford, they were pushing up against other local gangs which increased the level of violence,” explained Lelling.

Authorities are however hopeful this will lead to crime and homicide rates falling.

“Having taken out most of the leadership, it’s extremely difficult for the gang to regroup in this region any time soon,” said Lelling.

In a statement, New Bedford Mayor John Mitchell agreed, saying he hopes this will curb the violence in the city’s North End.

Also recovered at the groups ‘trap’ houses Thursday, two missing teenagers from New Bedford and Fall River.

ABC 6 reached out to police for more information on how long they’d been missing, but we did not hear back.

©WLNE-TV/ABC6 2019