U.S. Department
of Justice
Former "Chairman" of Massachusetts Latin Kings Crown Council Sentenced for Racketeering Conspiracy
BOSTON – The former Chairman of the Crown Council for the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (Latin Kings) in Massachusetts was sentenced today on racketeering charges.
Gregory Peguero-Colon, a/k/a “King Trece,” 48, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to three years in prison and three years of supervised release. On March 9, 2021, Peguero-Colon pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy.
Peguero-Colon served as the Chairman of the Crown Council, acting as an independent advisor to the State Leadership team and presiding over “trials” for gang members that violated the Latin Kings code of conduct. Peguero-Colon also kept and maintained a spreadsheet identifying individuals who were in bad standing with the gang for various reasons, including whether individuals had provided information to law enforcement or committed “treason” against the gang. Peguero-Colon disseminated this spreadsheet to the Latin Kings members, and multiple people on the spreadsheet had in fact been targeted for violence by the Latin Kings.
The Latin Kings are a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Latin Kings adhere to a national manifesto, employ an internal judiciary and use a sophisticated system of communication to maintain the hierarchy of the organization. As alleged in court documents, the gang uses drug distribution to generate revenue, and engages in violence against witnesses and rival gangs to further its influence and to protect its turf.
In December 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment alleging racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and firearms charges against 62 leaders, members and associates of the Latin Kings. Peguero-Colon is the 34th defendant to be sentenced in the case.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; and New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was also provided by the FBI North Shore Gang Task Force and the Bristol County and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip A. Mallard and Lauren Graber of Mendell’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
