Highlights
– The Latin Kings is a highly organized, well-structured gang with a largely Hispanic membership
– Members of the Latin Kings are involved in a wide variety of criminal activities
– The gang will remain a persistent threat for local officials in the coming years
The Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation, known widely as the Latin Kings, first began in Chicago, Illinois during the 1940s as a group of individuals from Puerto Rico seeking to overcome prejudices that immigrants from the country were facing. However, over time, the group emerged as one of the largest and most violent gangs in the Chicago area, as its members became involved in various criminal activities. The influence of the gang, known for its ruthlessness, can now be felt in at least 34 US states, as chapters have been established across the country.
While original members in the gang were individuals of Puerto Rican descent, the Latin Kings began to accept others with a Latin background, including those from Spain, the Caribbean, Italy, Portugal, and South America. Eventually, other ethnic groups were also allowed to join, as large membership became a top priority for the organization. However, the majority of Latin King membership remains Hispanic.
Organizational Structure
As compared to many other US gangs, the Latin Kings has a high level of organizational structure that is strictly enforced by members. It is important to note that the original Latin Kings gang in Chicago maintains only loose connections to chapters in other states. The original gang in Chicago can be considered the largest and most established, however chapters in other states also operate with strict guidelines and infrastructure.
Each chapter of the Latin Kings often has a lengthy written constitution, which includes bylaws, guidelines, operating procedures, expected behavior and standards, and a clear command structure. The constitution is designed to direct all criminal activities carried out by members, and enforce adherence to gang procedures through violence and extortion. The leader of each chapter is referred to as the “Inca.” Chapters of the gang inside prison facilities operate in a similar manner.
Members of the Latin Kings consider the organization community-based, and during meetings often recite pledges and vow to answer any call to action by the chapter’s leader. Meetings are used to discuss violence against other gangs and enemies, and to discipline members for breaking rules. Some members also celebrate important days for the gang, such as “King’s Holy Day” on January 6th, and “King’s Week” through the first week in March.
Activities
Members of the Latin Kings are involved in a wide variety of criminal activities, including murder, robbery, drug trafficking, purchase and resale of illegal firearms, and trafficking of stolen vehicles and other property for profit. The gang also owns or controls numerous “legitimate businesses” that serve as fronts for laundering money brought in from the group’s drug sales.
Members of the Latin Kings have shown a propensity for employing Molotov cocktails in arson attacks carried out against various targets, such as rival gang members’ homes, and the houses of those who testify against the group.
– For example, in early January 2008, three members of the Latin Kings were arrested and charged with throwing Molotov cocktails at a house in Rockville, Maryland in an attempt to set it on fire.
The Challenges Ahead
US officials have had several successes against the Latin Kings in recent years, including:
– In October 2002, officials in New Jersey indicted and arrested 41 members of the gang on a wide range of criminal charges following a 14-month investigation. Among other activities, those arrested were involved in a large-scale cocaine trafficking operation that spanned several states.
– In May 2007, authorities in Massachusetts arrested over 30 members of the gang after a year-long investigation into their violent activities regarding turf wars with other gangs/drug dealers in the area.
– In December 2007, 21 individuals from a faction of the Latin Kings were arrested in Chicago for involvement in an international drug ring that moved ecstasy from Canada to the US.
While many of these arrests had a near-term impact on the Latin Kings, particularly when leaders or high-level individuals were detained, other members quickly moved to fill voids and remaining power vacuums. It is likely that in the wake of any future arrests of leading figures within the organization, other members will work to fill vacant positions and restore the gang’s strength. The Latin Kings will likely remain as one of the country’s most violent and criminal gangs due to its strength and ability to rebuild after losses.
