A Haverhill man was arrested by a federally led statewide sweep Thursday that netted 60 gang members involved with the “Almighty Latin Kings and Queen Nation”—or “Latin Kings,” for short.
The group included Juan Liberato, known as “King Prodigy,” of Haverhill. He was identified as a former leader—or “Inca”—of the Massachusetts region. Liberato is among those facing federal charges after more than 500 local, state and federal officers arrested dozens of Latin Kings leaders, members and associates and executed 31 search warrants at 24 locations.
A four-year investigation assembled evidence the Latin Kings trafficked drugs, conspired to murder more than 10 victims and committed violent crimes including numerous incidents of robbery, shootings, stabbings and witness intimidation.
The gang allegedly uses drug distribution to generate revenue and aims, in the words of officials, to “protect its turf from rival gangs. This has fostered a culture of institutional violence and secrecy. Those arrested face charges of drug dealing—including cocaine and fentanyl, racketeering and felons in possession of firearms and ammunition.
According to court documents, the Eastern Region of the Latin Kings encompasses local chapters in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York and various other states along the eastern seaboard from Maryland to Florida. There are 11 active Latin Kings chapters in Massachusetts, named D5K and Morton Street Bricks, both of Boston; New Bedford; Springfield; Lynn/Salem; Chelsea; Lowell; Lawrence; Worcester; Fitchburg and within the Department of Corrections.
Criminal activity in the Eastern Region is led by Michael Cecchetelli, also known as, “King Merlin,” 40, of Springfield, who holds the title of supreme east coast regional overseer. Cecchetelli is alleged to be the conduit between each of the Eastern Region states and the Latin Kings national leadership in Chicago. He developed a leadership approach to the gang which has become a model for other Latin Kings regions of the country.
Those arrested are:
| Defendant | Role | |
| 1 | Michael Cecchetelli, King Merlin
|
East Coast Team,
East Coast Overseer |
| 2 | Esther Ortiz, Queen India
Meriden, CT |
East Coast Team,
East Coast Crown Council Chairwoman |
| 3 | Hector Manuel Vega, King Demon
Britian, CT |
East Coast Team,
Crown Council Member, CT |
| 4 | Jorge Rodriguez, King G | State Team, Cacique
Enforcer (Former) |
| 5 | Michael Marrero, King Clumsy | State Team, Enforcer
Regional Officer (Former) |
| 6 | Francisco Lopez, King Cisco
Chelsea, Mass. |
State Team, Treasurer/Secretary |
| 7 | Gregory Peguero-Colon, King Trece
Springfield, Mass. |
State Team,
Crown Council Chairman |
| 8 | Juan Liberato, King Prodigy
Haverhill, Mass. |
State Team, Inca (Former) |
| 9 | Angel Roldan, King Big-A and Nelty
Lowell, Mass. |
State Team, Cacique (Former)
Enforcer (Former) |
| 10 | Frutuoso Barros, King Fruity | DOC, Supreme Regional Officer |
| 11 | Sandra Correa, Queen Dream
Peabody, Mass. |
DOC, Secretary (Former) |
| 12 | Shaun Harrison Rev | DOC, Member |
| 13 | Vincent Dzierwinski, King Vice | DOC, Member |
| 14 | Wilson Peguero, King Dubb
Dorchester, Mass. |
D5K, Inca |
| 15 | Alexis Peguero, King Lexi/Looney
Dorchester, Mass. |
D5K, Cacique |
| 16 | Matthew Palacios, King Nene | D5K, Enforcer |
| 17 | Steven Familia-Valdez, King Haze
Mattapan, Mass. |
D5K, Member |
| 18 | Dante Lara, King Nasty
Providence, RI |
D5K, Member |
| 19 | Robert Lara, King Rizz
Chelsea, Mass. |
D5K, Member |
| 20 | Angel Abymael Ortiz, King Abby
Randolph, Mass. |
D5K, Member |
| 21 | Angel Rodriguez, King Ace
Dorchester, Mass. |
D5K, Member
Crown Council Chairman for Boston |
| 22 | Alexis Velasquez, King Booboo
Dorchester, Mass. |
MSB, Inca |
| 23 | Angel Calderon, King Bam | MSB,
(Former) State Team Head of Security |
| 24 | Oscar Pena, King O-Block | D5K, Member |
| 25 | Jose Rodriguez, King Stutter
New Bedford, Mass. |
New Bedford, Inca |
| 26 | Orlando Santiago-Torres, King Landi | New Bedford, Cacique |
| 27 | Robert Avitabile a/k/a Bobby | New Bedford, Associate |
| 28 | Taliyah Barboza, Queen Taliyah
New Bedford, Mass. |
New Bedford, Member |
| 29 | Josue Carrasquillo, King Playboy
Springfield, Mass. |
New Bedford, Member |
| 30 | Michael Cotto, King Gordo
New Bedford, Mass. |
New Bedford, (Former) Regional Officer |
| 31 | Juan Figueroa, King Pun
Dorchester, Mass. |
New Bedford, Member |
| 32 | Issac Felix-Rivera, King Izzy | New Bedford, Member |
| 33 | Kevin Guadalupe, King Milly
New Bedford, Mass. |
New Bedford, Member |
| 34 | Shelton Johnson, King Shells
New Bedford, Mass. |
New Bedford, Member |
| 35 | Tyson Jorge, King Music | New Bedford, Member |
| 36 | Emanuel Lopez-Velez, King Manny | New Bedford, Probationary Member |
| 37 | Luis Mendez, King Primo | New Bedford, Member, Incarcerated |
| 38 | Raekwan Paris, King D-Bo | New Bedford, Member |
| 39 | Jayco Reyes-Smith, King Javy | Former New Bedford Member, now in North Carolina |
| 40 | Luis Santiago, King Tiny | New Bedford, Member, Incarcerated |
| 41 | Roberto Vargas, King Royalty | New Bedford, Member |
| 42 | Jose Vasquez, King Fearless | New Bedford, Member |
| 43 | Natanel Velazquez, King Nael
New Bedford, Mass. |
New Bedford, Member |
| 44 | Israel Rodriguez, King Imperial
Lynn, Mass. |
North Shore, Inca |
| 45 | Alfred Nieves, King Alfy
Lowell, Mass. |
Lowell, Inca |
| 46 | Marlon Rivera, King Pluto | Fitchburg, Member
D5K, Founder |
| 47 | Ines Lugo, Queen China
New Bedford, Mass. |
New Bedford, Secretary |
| 48 | Jeremia Medina, King Sweepy
New Bedford, Mass. |
New Bedford, Enforcer |
| 49 | Bienvenido Nunez, King Apache
Enfield, CT |
State Team, Inca |
| 50 | Tanairy Ruiz, Queen Tanairy
New Bedford, Mass. |
New Bedford, Member |
| 51 | Xavier Valentin-Soto, King X | New Bedford, Member
(Former) Cascique, Incarcerated |
| 52 | Joel Francisco, King Casper | Rhode Island, Member |
| 53 | Eric Thomas, King E | Rhode Island, Inca
|
| 54 | Alvin Mojica, King Humble | Worcester, Inca |
| 55 | Sophia Velasquez, Queen Sophia | Fitchburg, Member |
|
56 |
Dairon Rivera, King Mafia | Fitchburg, Member |
| 57 | Hector Adorno, King Gordo | Springfield, Member |
| 58 | Jesus Diaz, King Kiko | N. Shore, Member |
| 59 | Henry Caribe, King 40cal | N. Shore, Member |
| 60 | Jonathan Cassiano, King Legend | Springfield, Member |
| 61 | Antoine Goodson | Associate, gun supplier to gang |
| 62 | Derek Southworth | Associate, gun supplier to gang |