Latin Kings (gang)

Latin Kings, Reyes Latinos

Latin Kings graffiti of the King Master along with the letters "L" and "K" on the sides.
Founding location Chicago, Illinois
Years active 1943–present
Territory Nationwide, in predominately Latino neighborhoods in Chicago, New York City, and some U.S cities and prisons, also in countries like:Peru, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Spain
Ethnicity Mostly Hispanics
Membership

Midwest faction: 45,000 (dominated by Mexican and Puerto Rican Americans) Eastcoast faction: 5,000 - 24,000 (dominated by Puerto Ricans)

5,000 (Other)
Criminal activities Battery, rackteering, murder, Extortion, and Drug Trafficking.
Allies People Nation gangs[1]
Rivals Folk Nation gangs[1]

The Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (ALKQN, ALKN, LKN) is a large Hispanic street gang in the United States of America.[2][3][4] Its roots date to 1943 in Chicago, Illinois, where it developed in the Puerto Rican community, which had expanded during a period of increased migration to the mainland, in modern times, having great influence in Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, and regions in Brazil.

Latin Kings

Overview

The Latin Kings street gang was formed in Chicago in 1964 and consisted of Chicano and Mexican males. the gang has some Cuban, Central American, and Dominican members. in Spain, the membership consisted of Latin American and Caribbean immigrants. in Brazil, members consist of Indigenous, Afro-Brazilian, and some White and Asian-Brazilian members along with some Caribbean immigrant membership as well

Subdivisions and size

Founded with the philosophy of "overcoming racial prejudice" and creating an organization of "Kings" and "Queens," the Latin Kings evolved into a criminal enterprise operating throughout the United States under two umbrella factions—Motherland, also known as KMC (King Manifesto and Constitution), and Bloodline (New York City). All members of the gang identify as Latin Kings. Individuals of any nationality may be accepted as members.

Motherland faction:

Latin Kings associating with the Motherland faction also identify as "Almighty Latin King Nation (ALKN)," and make up more than 160 structured chapters operating in 158 cities in 31 states. The membership of those Latin Kings in Chicago is estimated to be 20,000 to 35,000.[5]

Bloodline faction:

The Bloodline Manifesto was founded by Luis Felipe AKA "King Blood" in 1986 in the New York State Collins correctional Facility. Latin Kings associating with New York State Bloodline Chapter also identify as the "Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (ALKQN)." Membership is estimated to be as many as 7,500, divided among several dozen Tribes operating in 15 cities in 5 states. New York State Bloodline Latin Kings share a common culture and structure with KMC and respect them as the Motherland, but not all chapters report to the Chicago leadership hierarchy.

Organizational structure

The Latin Kings have a hierarchical organizational structure: they have numerous "chapters" or "tribes" across the country,[6] which adhere to a regional, state, and a national system. Officers (Inca, Cacique and Enforcer) are supported by a "Crown Council" of seven members. The Council sets rules and regulations and holds disciplinary hearings.[2]

The hierarchy rises to regional officers and ultimately to 2 supreme regional incas based in Chicago. The head (or heads) of the entire criminal organization are known as 'coronas' (crowns in English). One retired detective said in 2004: "When you compare them to other street gangs like the Bloods and the Crips, none compare to the organization of the Latin Kings."[2]

Discipline

When any member believes that another member has violated a regulation, they begin the disciplinary process by submitting a Procedures for Violation Form.[7] This form includes a variety of information about the allegation including the violation, the version of the accused, and members present or other witnesses. If the member is found to be guilty of the violation at their Crown hearing, they may be subject to a range of penalties depending on the severity of the offense:

Non-Corporal Punishments

Corporal Punishments

Markings

The Latin King colors are Black , Red , Gold. Gang markings consist of a 5 or 3-point "sacred crown," writings of LK, ALK, ALKN, ALKQN abbreviations (or the whole words); and drawings of the Lion and/or the King Master.[8] Latin King symbolism is usually accompanied with the name and number of the Tribe, region or city of the gang. The Latin Kings are members of the People Nation alliance of gangs, and are therefore opposed to the rival Folk Nation gang alliance.[1]

Culture

Most Kings wear black/and or gold. The teams Kings represent are usually Chicago teams; such as the Chicago White Sox, and Chicago Bears. but also the Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins, New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Kings and Boston Bruins.

"Kingism" ideology

According to L.A.Kaufman's in the February 2015 issue of the New York Magazine,

"What also made the Kings different was their unique mixture of intense discipline, revolutionary politics and a homemade religion called "Kingism"—adding idealism and a bootcamp rigor to the usual gang camaraderie—a potent mixture for troubled ghetto kids whose lives lacked structure and hope".[9]

Kingism as an ideology is a unique blend of tribal gang rhetoric and religious mysticisms. As one member put it, the Manifesto is "considered our Bible," and reading it is to go "from the darkness to the light."[10] This can readily be seen in the following passage from the King's manifesto explaining the significance of the salute, which readily combines organizational fealty with Judeo-Christian theism and some variety of nature worship:

A fist upon our heart. It means "I DIE FOR YOU" for you are flesh of my flesh, blood of my blood, son of my mother who is the universal nature and follower of Yahve, who is the Almighty King of Kings.[10]

The Latin Kings operate under strict codes and guidelines that are conveyed in a lengthy constitution, and they follow the teachings of the King Manifesto.[11][12] According to the Manifesto there are three stages, or cycles of Nation life that constitute Kingism.[13] They are:

  1. The Primitive Stage: "That stage in life where the King warrior acts on impulse, executing his action without giving them the serious thought that they demand. A stage of immaturity where the King warrior's time is spend gang banging, getting high, and being recognized as big and bad."
  2. The Conservative Stage: "At this level the King warrior becomes tired of the primitive stage. He no longer wishes to participate in the senseless routine of gang fighting, hanging on the corner or being recognized as big and bad. Most often at this level the King warrior gets married and retires. It is inappropriate to call this stage maturity stage due to the fact that the King warrior at this time does not really become mature in the sense of maturity. Instead he becomes mummified or reaches a level of accepting life as it has been taught to him by the existing system that exploits all people of color-dehumanizes them and maintains them under the economic and social yoke of slavery."
  3. The New King Stage: "The stage of awareness and decision. The new King recognizes that the time for revolution is at hand. Revolution of the mind! The revolution of knowledge! A revolution that will bring freedom to the enslaved, to all Third World people as we together sing and praise with joy what time it is-it is Nation time!... For him there are no horizons between races, sexes and senseless labels. for him everything has meaning, human life is placed above materialistic values... When a man become a new King the will of the Nation becomes his will, for to be at variance with the Nation is one thing that cannot endure. The Almighty Latin King Nation requires wholehearted and complete devotion."[14]

According to the Manifesto, "The New King is the end product of complete awareness, perceiving three-hundred and sixty degrees of enlightenment; his observations are free and independent; his thoughts are not clouded by any form of prejudice. The New King no longer views the rival warrior as the cause of his ills; instead, he fights against the Anti-King System (social injustices and inequality), a system which seeks to deny and oppress his people: the Oppressed Third World Peoples.[13]

King Motherland Chicago Latin Kings

Latin Kings Sweater Patch

The Chicago faction of the Latin Kings is recognized as the largest Hispanic street gang, and one of the largest Chicago-based street gangs, in the United States.[15] Unlike MS-13 and 18th Street gang—whose great portion of gang membership exists in Central and South America—the Latin Kings have a heavier presence within the United States.

The gang has over 25,000[16] members in the city of Chicago alone and have organized chapters in over 41 states and several Latin American and European countries, including: Mexico, Spain, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Canada, Italy, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, United Kingdom and others.[17] The Latin Kings are mostly of Latino descent, with some Black, White, Asian and Middle Eastern members as well.

Bloodline Latin Kings

Organization

In New York City, the Latin Kings are organized into individual "Tribes" or "Castles" and In some cases use the names of ancient "Inca" Indians such as Queen's Flushing "Maya Tribe" & Long Island's "Toltec tribe" or local names such as The "Flatbush, BrooklynSun Tribe The "Sunset Park Tribe" and The "Borough Park Homicide Squad". Other Boroughs such as Queens include names such as "Jamaica Wolf Pack Tribe", "Crown City Tribe", and "Lef-Rak City Tribe". Other names can consist of Divisions such as D-1, D-2, and so on, all located in Long Island's Toltec tribe, which extends across the whole island.[18][19][20] These tribes and castles are located throughout the five boroughs and Long Island. They are run with a Bloodline Crown Structure unlike Chicago where it originated, and not authorized until much later recognizing New York Latin Kings. This created a civil war due to control issues. Bad Boy Kings not following Bloodline Kings rather the Five Lions (a rogue hit squad) created serious conflict inside the prisons. The Crown is broken down and every King must know their sworn oath and lessons is one of the main requirements "The Break down of the Crown", First Crown, Black Stone, (onyx) is the tribe leader, Second Crown is (Pearl) white keeping the honesty in the tribe, Third Crown is (emerald) green ( War Lord )keeping the order and peace with in the tribe Fourth Crown (Ruby) red "Treasurer" and the last is fifth crown is (Amber) yellow and Advisor to the First Crown. A "Black Rose" is a Secret imposed by one of The Crowns of any Tribe or Castle .

Leadership

In 1986, to avoid imprisonment for his criminal activities in Chicago, Luis Felipe (a.k.a. King Blood) fled to New York and started his own chapter of the Latin Kings known as the Bloodline. He designated himself as Inca and Supreme Crown of the state of New York. Soon after arriving in New York Felipe was arrested and convicted of murdering his girlfriend. In 1995 Antonio Fernandez (a.k.a. King Tone) was designated Inca and Supreme Crown of New York State and New Jersey, and the ALKQN once again began a transformation.[21][22]

Street Gang: 1986–1995

From 1986 to the internal power struggle that erupted in 1994, the ALKQN solidified its role as a gang through crimes such as murder, racketeering, and RICO Act charges.[22]

In 1991, Felipe was returned to prison after a short release for parole violations stemming from the receipt of stolen goods. However, Felipe continued to guide the ALKQN members, who now numbered about 2,000, both incarcerated and free. In 1994, with the rapid growth of the Latin Kings, an internal power struggle erupted and violence within the Kings ensued. Between June 1993 and February 1994, seven Latin Kings were murdered. Following the outbreaks of internal gang violence, Luis Felipe and 19 others were charged with murder and racketeering; the indictments ended in 1995 with 39 Latin Kings and 1 Latin Queen indicted under the RICO Act.[22]

The details of the charges against Felipe were later revealed: Felipe was charged with ordering the killing of William (Lil Man) Cartagena. Cartegena was taken to an abandoned Bronx apartment where he was strangled, decapitated, mutilated and his corpse set on fire. Although Felipe was in prison, the government later alleged he had ordered a TOS ("Terminate On Sight") to all Latin Kings for the murder of Cartagena. This letter and many others were how Felipe was initially linked to three murders on the streets of New York; testimony from former Kings was used as further evidence of the orders. The letters had been copied and stored by the NY Department of Corrections, who were not aware of the significance of the letters until a federal task force was formed that linked homicide investigators from the NYPD, FBI agents, and DOC investigators.[23]

Reformation: 1996–1999

In 1999, following the trial of Luis Felipe,[24] Antonio Fernandez, who was recently blessed as the Inca and Supreme Crown of New York State [25] kneeled with other Latin Kings in front of the Federal District Court in Manhattan and is quoted as stating: It's time for a fresh start... Now they can't hold our past against us. 1999 is believed to be the beginning of the ALKQN's transformation from a street gang to a "street organization."[26]

Latin Kings and Queens began appearing en masse at political demonstrations in support of the Latino community. To further its transformation and efforts to legitimize, the organization began to hold its monthly meetings (universals) at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in West Harlem. At this time, the membership of the Latin Kings is believed to have swelled to 3,000 incarcerated and 4,000 free. The monthly universals drew attendance of 500-600 regularly. Internal changes to the organization began to take place as Fernandez amended the ALKQN manifesto to include parliamentary elections and new procedures for handling inter-organizational grievances and removing death as a possible punishment, replacing it with "vanishing", the act of being banished from the movement.[22]

For the ALKQN, 1997 began with Felipe being sentenced to the harshest penalty passed down since World War II. Felipe was sentenced to 250 years in prison, the first 45 to be spent in solitary confinement. He was a close friend of criminal (YACS) member Pavle Stanimirovic writes about it as he witnessed this brutality in Solitary confinement. The other 39 members were sentenced to an average of 20 years in prison for their roles in the crimes. The year would bring further legal troubles as Fernandez and 31 others are arrested in a raid in the Lower East Side and charged with disorderly conduct. The Special Commissioner of Investigation for Schools soon after charges the ALKQN with infiltrating the school system; a school security guard with five years of service was dismissed on charges of unprofessional conduct for his association with the Latin Kings. The year came to a close with Fernandez being arrested in December by the FBI for domestic abuse.[22]

The pending charges against Fernandez were dropped in early 1998. Following the release of Fernandez, a joint operation of the FBI, New York City Police Department (NYPD), Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), New York State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) comes to a close with the arrests of 92 suspected ALKQN members. The Latin King leadership insists over half of those arrested are not members. The operation, dubbed Operation Crown, cost the city over one million dollars and took 19 months to complete.

Fernandez was released after four days on $350,000 bail, which was paid for by contributions from community members must mandatory pay their dues collected every week that goes into the "Caja" Box that the treasurer would be in charge of collecting .Over half of the arrested were charged with misdemeanors, other were charged with weapons possession and drug trafficking. Fernandez was eventually permitted, though on house arrest, to attend monthly universal meetings. It was during his time on house arrest that the Latin Queens underwent a shake up in leadership, dismissing many of the leaders in order to bring in more politically focused members.[22]

The Latin Kings during this period begin to gain legitimacy. First, Lolita Lebrón, who was a member of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party, appointed the New York State ALKQN to protect her during a demonstration in front of the United Nations. Following the UN demonstration, Rafael Cancel-Miranda, a Puerto Rican nacionalista who spent 25 years in federal prison, attended a monthly universal. Before years' end, Adelfa Vera, Puerto Rican activist, attended a monthly universal and was given sacred ALKQN beads by the present leadership. Adelfa was praised during the meeting and stated "These kids are hope for our liberation struggle. I can die in peace, because we found the continuation."[22]

In 1998, Fernandez[24] pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell and distribute heroin. In 1999, he was sentenced to 13 years in prison, which he began serving at Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary in Kansas and was placed in solitary confinement. He was eventually transferred again and placed in general population. He has since been released.

Massachusetts

Operation Dethrone was an investigation by the Western Massachusetts Gang Task Force, consisting of the FBI, the Chicopee Police Department, the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, the Holyoke Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, the Springfield Police Department, and the West Springfield Police Department. The first phase of the investigation, went after the Lawrence chapter of the ALKQN, was converted to an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force/High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area case involving numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. After the significant disruption of the Lawrence chapter in February 2004, information provided by cooperating defendants led to the significant disruption of the Springfield chapter in June 2005. 57 ALKQN members have been indicted.[27]

Latin Queens

While originally the Latin Kings are thought to be a male organization, it eventually began to absorb women and give them an equal share. The Latin Queens constituted the female Queen Anubis and Queen Maat of the ALKQN.[28]

The Latin Queen agenda is composed of self-respect, independence, family support, ethnic identity and self-empowerment. Seeking such goals has attracted a wide variety of females who had been drug addicted, victimized and/or neglected by families, spouses and partners. Sociologists studying the Latin Kings and Queens have observed the different methods in which both groups attempt to "reclaim and regulate" their environments. The Latin Queens are believed to focus more on their private space issues such as home life and protection and nurturing of their bodies, as opposed to the Latin Kings, who are more concerned with loss of public spaces in their own communities.[28]

The evolution of the ALKQN has been viewed by outside sources as being assisted by the addition and greater role in which Queen Loki and Queen Vailor have played, exposing the ALKQN to a greater range of cross-class supporters than would have been possible prior to their integration.[28] In countries such as Spain, Latin Queens are helping to legitimize the ALKQN through integration with government sponsored programs. In Catalonia, the 200 persons including Queen Tragedy and King Zeus and the rest of the Latin Kings and Queens tribe was designated as the Cultural Association of Latin Kings and Queens of Catalonia. The "cultural program" designation was bestowed through government sponsored programs to assist gangs with integration into society and is led by Latin Queen Melody, Erika Jaramillo.[29]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Florida Department of Corrections. "People and Folk Nation Sets - Gang and Security Threat Group Awareness". Dc.state.fl.us. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
  2. 1 2 3 "Latin Kings Live, Die By Rigid Organization". Chris Markuns The Eagle-Tribune, Lawrence, MA, February 29, 2004.
  3. ↑ "Gangland: Divide and Conquer DVD, View All, HISTORY Shop". Shop.history.com. 2009-03-30. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
  4. ↑ "Latin Kings gang members charged in murder, racketeering, drug offenses". The Philadelphia Inquirer. 2010-07-22. Retrieved 2010-11-27.
  5. ↑ "National Gang Threat Assessment 2009". 2009-01-01. Retrieved 2011-02-01.
  6. ↑ "FBI: Arrests wipe out Latin Kings leadership". Chicago Breaking News. 2008-09-24. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
  7. ↑ https://books.google.com/books?id=M-Rn9ldraCUC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0
  8. ↑
  9. ↑ New York Magazine. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2013-10-30.
  10. 1 2 "The Inca: Gang leader's trial revealed Latin Kings' culture". Archived from the original on 2016-02-29. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
  11. ↑ The Almighty Latin King and Queen ... Google Books. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
  12. ↑ "Eighteen Members of Almighty Latin King/Queen Nation Named in Federal and State Charges, Reports U.S. Attorney". .prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
  13. 1 2 The Almighty Latin King and Queen ... Google Books. 2004-02-18. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
  14. ↑ Brotherton, D (2013). The almighty latin king and queen nation: Street politics and the transformation of a New York City gang. Columbia University Press
  15. ↑ "Testimony offers rare look inside Latin Kings gang - Chicago Tribune". Articles.chicagotribune.com. 2008-07-28. Retrieved 2013-10-30.
  16. ↑ Karen L. Kinnear. Gangs: a reference handbook. ABC-CLIO.
  17. ↑ "NCGIA Gang Profiles: Latin Kings". ncgangcops.org. Retrieved 2015-12-02.
  18. ↑ "USDOJ: Latin Kings Leader Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy Related to Gang Activities in New York and Maryland". Justice.gov. 2010-06-09. Retrieved 2013-10-30.
  19. ↑ "USDOJ: US Attorney's Office - Eastern District of New York". Justice.gov. Retrieved 2013-10-30.
  20. ↑ "NYPD Press Release - Brooklyn Latin Kings Dismantled". Nyc.gov. Retrieved 2013-10-30.
  21. ↑ "The Almighty Latin Kings Nation (ALKN)". Retrieved 15 December 2008.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Brotherton, David C. (February 2004). The Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation: Street Politics and the Transformation of a New York City Gang. Columbia University Press. xvi–xix, 158, 159. ISBN 0-231-11418-4.
  23. ↑ Richardson, Lynda (November 20, 1996). "Leader of Latin Kings Is Convicted in Slayings". New York Times.
  24. 1 2 "Latin Kings: A Street Gang Story - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes - NYTimes.com". Movies.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
  25. ↑ "Documentaries: Home". HBO. 2008-11-26. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
  26. ↑ "Leader of Latin Kings Is Convicted in Slayings". nytimes.com. November 20, 1996.
  27. ↑ "Gang Success Stories".
  28. 1 2 3 Ferrell (November 2004). Cultural Criminology Unleashed. Routledge Cavendish. pp. 67–69. ISBN 1-904385-37-0.
  29. ↑ Drago, Tito (September 21, 2006). "Latin Kings Gang a "Cultural Association" in Barcelona". Inter Press Service (IPS).
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