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Press Release

Springfield Latin Kings Leader Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Distribution and Firearm Charge

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts

BOSTON – The former “enforcer” of the Massachusetts Latin Kings gang pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Springfield to distributing cocaine and a federal firearm charge.

Bienvenido Nuñez, 38, of Springfield, Mass., pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm and distributing cocaine.  U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Aug. 19, 2016. 

In October 2014, an investigation was initiated in an effort to disrupt and dismantle the Latin Kings’ criminal activity in Springfield and Holyoke.  According to court documents, members and associates of the Latin Kings were engaged in the distribution of narcotics.  In addition, disputes with rival gangs over criminal activity and drug turf were on the rise and resulted in serious crimes of violence, including armed assaults with firearms and murder.  The investigation led to the arrest of 12 alleged Latin Kings members, including Nuñez, in connection with drug and firearms offenses in November 2015. 

As alleged in court documents, Nuñez held the position of “enforzador,” or “enforcer,” of the Massachusetts chapter of the Latin Kings gang at the time of his arrest on Nov. 9, 2015.  Nuñez pleaded guilty today to distributing seven grams of cocaine in Chicopee on Aug. 4, 2015, and to possessing a .40 caliber Beretta pistol on the day of his arrest.

The charge of distribution of cocaine provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million.  The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katharine A. Wagner of Ortiz’s Springfield Branch Office.

Updated May 13, 2016

Topic
Drug Trafficking