Introduction
Latin kings, a dangerous street gang that operates in more than 35 states and has its strong presence across the United States of America, is also known as Almighty Latin King Nation, Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation and has several other names. The gang is considered as most aggressive and brutal gang in America. The gang is known for hitting various senior officers of different departments of the country. Chicago division of the gang has committed various heinous crimes for example: they stolen military weapons; murdered officers and cannibalize prisoner, grouped with terrorists and planned riot in the state on a Coca-Cola advertisement. The Latin King group has very bloody and weird history that can be described as fiction novel. This paper intends to discuss the Latin Kings, its creation, organization, criminal activities, structure, regulations, and several other related aspects of the subject matter.
Objective of Latin kings
Latin Kings is one of the most organized, dangerous and largest gang of America. The gang was founded by papa Santos who is also known as papa king. Papa along with his associates formed this gang almost five decades ago in the Chicago to look after the interests of Puerto Rican people in the United States of America. The gang was started in form of self defense groups to counter all kinds of racial discrimination and oppression of the Latinos who were migrated into American territory. This was an effort of securing the interests of Latin immigrant community by the Puerto Rican youths. This gang is usually dominated by Puerto Rican males who are now indulged into a number of criminal activities including murder, drug trafficking, rape and other violent activities.
The Latin kings is recognized as purely criminal organization and members o this gang are believed to be responsible or a number o heinous crimes across the streets of America. The Latin kings is said to be behind every major crime that takes place in Chicago. Whatever was the reason of its forming but currently this is an entirely criminal gang.
Organizational structure and membership of Latin kings
The gang started its operation around thirty years back in Chicago and presently spread across approx 34 states of the country. The gang is highly organized and a leadership is established in the gang at local, state as well as national levels for effective control and operation of the gang. Their organizational structure is very strong in comparison to other gang of America. There is a crown council that makes rules and regulations and keeps an eye on the conducts o the members. There are seven members in this council and the heads of the state and national units are known as ‘coronas’. The council takes major decisions related to operation, membership and all other activities that are important or the growth of the gang.
Membership is awarded to eligible aspirants as per the constitution and regulations o the gang. The gang is still dominated by Puerto Rican males but with new changes and challenges other people of different origins like Spanish, Caribbean, South Americans, and Italians are also allowed. Some recent developments suggest that Mexicans are in a dominant role in some chapters of the gang, especially in Chicago and Midwest because of their huge numbers in these areas. According to some confirmed sources and police reports some divisions also give membership to females. These females are commonly known as Latin queens. Latin kings is divided into a number of chapters and almost 50 thousand members are associated with the gang. The gang has around 18,000 people working with it in Chicago only.
The gang has its own written extensive constitutions, laws and complicated rituals. The huge base of the gang and loyalty of the people is formed and sustained by the fear. The gang has very characteristics that make it very different, strong and aggressive from the other gangs. The gang has relationship with terrorist group known as F.A.L.N., which leaves its impact on gang working style. The gang depicts a very brutal style o working as compare to other existing gangs. The style is not even different for their own members; their own members receive similar treatment in case they commit any undesirable act or shows dishonesty to the gang. For example gang grinned one of the person in meat grinder and served him as dinner who’s skeleton was later found buried in a yard.
The gang comprises of various regular and frequent members who belongs to different areas. The higher leaders of Latin kings given a status of prince. NGCRC (National Gang Crime Research Centre) in their journal “Gang Research” elaborated the profiles of various members of the Latin Kings. The researchers were not initially supposed to cover this gang for that issue but due to their acts they got motivated. The journal mentioned that they motivated to cover this gang because of its history that is linked to 1996; in this year the gang murdered correctional officers and also given warning to kill more officers. The gang gathered attention of police department and provided sufficient evidences to prosecute against them.
Location and presence of the Latin kings
The gang has wide presence in more than 36 states of the country. The gang has its strongest hold in the Chicago and has more than 25000 members in the Chicago alone. Apart from being the largest gang of Chicago, the Latin kings has its strongest hold in several other cities, mainly in New York, Texas, Florida and Illinois. The gang has its network in most of the states across the America. Police suggests that the gang has succeeded in establishing its connection with other gangs of Spain, Central America and gangs of several European countries.
Criminal activities of Latin kings
Latin kings is a gang that is known for its ruthless style o committing crimes. When the gang was not that big in size and strength then also the brutal style of this gang was a matter of concern for the law implementing agencies as well as members of other gangs. Members of this gang are involved in a number of criminal activities including murder, assault, drug trafficking, arms trafficking, robbery, kidnapping, extortion, theft, money laundering, corruption, smuggling and all other structured criminal activities. This Gang believes in corrupting the system and police officers in order to make their task easy. Latin kings is infamous for its hits on members of rival gangs, its own members who does not follow orders o seniors as well as the police or other government officers who create hindrances in the workings of Latin kings.
Power of Crown
Discipline is an important aspect of any business and in the latin kings, it is something that can not be avoided in any circumstances. The members are bound to follow the orders of their senior office bearers. J H Richardson in new York magazine writes, "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". The kingism is taught to every member of this gang. Members are suggested to follow the instructions of their senior and instructions of the corona. Members of this gang are taught to follow the principles and policies in an unavoidable manner. This is the strongest aspect of this gang that keeps the members disciplined and intact.
Journey of Latin kings
Various researches, studies and reports were formed on the profile o Latin Kings. Large sources o information confirmed the huge and wide spread presence and immense power o the gang. According to a source the information present on the profile of gang is sufficient to write a book. Various researchers obtained documents from Latin Kings members which makes information more credible and trustworthy. The Chicago has various criminal groups likes Imperials, Diggers, Aces, Condors, Cool Click, Royal King and Apaches etc. committing crimes every day. One the gang named “Ambrose” which was in existence till 1960 had a fight with “Royal Kings” which was a Mexican gang. The increasing presence of Royal Kings captured various areas and streets. Majority of the members were teenagers or in their early twenties. This gang given birth to various other gangs and slowly increases the number of gangs. In 1963 gangs named Junior Sinners, Spanish Lings, the Jokers and various others were formed. Till that time the existence of Latin King was not confirmed. However, in the year 1966, the gang registered its presence by committing various crimes. This shows that the Latin Kings were formed somewhere in the year 1964 or 1965.
The gang was comprises o various members and worked under different leadership. However, Luis Felipe was among those who gave new identity to this gang and played very significant role in the expansion of Latin kings. Due to his criminal activities, he was on the hit list of Chicago police and in order to avoid his arrest, he shifted his base in the New York. He started his own chapter with a new name, blood line but very soon he was arrested and convicted for the murder of his own girl friend. Augustin took the charge of Latin kings and make the gang very powerful. Augustin along with other fourteen gang leaders and 3 members charged by central authority for: running criminal enterprise, drug dealing and various other criminal activities.
The Latin Kings also have Female members who work very actively for the group. They performed different activities for the group that are difficult for male members. For example marrying with an army officer and extract confidential information, and taking their target male object in some charges like rape or molestation. Female members are very smart to commit crimes that target men. The history of Chicago in terms of gang’s formation and criminal activities is not very good. During late 1950s and early 1960s state did not handled the increasing crime effectively and was not able to see the future. Children who once indulged in these activities started enjoying it. They liked enjoying unpaid and advance resources from any social entity. These initial activities which were done with pious intention did not turnout good. The group of social workers who were working for noble causes started forming gang. The social work was not well planned in a manner that it does not attract negative intentions. The benefits attracted people to form groups and start committing crimes. Initial social activities given rise to organized entities, that were completely involved in violence and criminal activities. Latin Kings is one o the best example of organized and well structured group. In gang members considered as individual instead as group.
It is likely to be that the Latin Kings were formed or evolved from “Royal Kings”. With the above presented fact that “Royal Kings” had a fight with “Ambrose” that resulted in formation of Latin Kings that shows the pattern and operational style of Ambrose. The facts gathered on the Latin Kings are from existing records, reports and verbal stories from gang people. This does not guaranteed the true origin of Latin Kings. From the existing information it can be said that the Latin Kings were formed in 18th street by Papa King along with Papa Santos. After gang formation Papa Santos left the Southside of the Chicago and went to Levitt & Schiller. Southside and North side groups have their own past and present.
In the Latin Kings the higher position is called as “Baby King” that is held by Raul Gonzalez, Sun-King. The baby king is higher position of Southside Latin Kings. The baby king has control over all the operations executed by Latin Kings. La Corona one of the senior leaders of the gang used to take care of all activities of Latin Kings. Lord Gino another leader of the gang also leads the gang for several years. Both these leaders performed their operations successfully and directed gang for several years. The gang incorporates various reporting levels that include senior leaders, junior leaders, middle management, lower level and task executers.
All senior leaders keep advisors also to get support in performing their tasks. These advisors also performed functions of personal executives to support senior leaders of the Latin Kings. Some famous advisors of the group are: Charlie Padilla, Havao, Compa, Beretta, Rudy Rangel, Kike and Dino. The princes have councils who performed administrative functions for the gang. Councils are responsible for forming goals, implementing policies and developing organizational system of operation. Pedro Rey, Caspar Rosario, Felix Jusino, Michael Contreras, Arturo Zambrano, Juan Perea and Rudy Martinez are few popular councils of the group.
Law enforcement agencies and Latin Gang in recent years
US bureau of alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives conducted an operation to stop the criminal activities of Latin kings and to stop the drug as well as weapon trafficking. Operation broken crown gave a major jolt to the gang as Fernando king was arrested with his associates. ATF used to keep an eye on these people when the department officials got a clue from an informant in this regard.
Operation pesadilla was another major operation by the US armed men against the Latin kings in the year 2006. Almost 40 people were raided as well arrested by the law enforcement agencies. It was revealed that members of this gang were involved in a major weapon deal with some external criminal organizations. This operation was very effective and succeeded in preventing the rampant crime in the society.
Operation Augustin zambrano of year 2009 was another important expedition to hamper the structure and activities of this organization. Augustin was the corona of the Latin kings and was said responsible for a number of criminal activities including murder, drug trafficking and weapon trafficking. This operation was a major success for the law enforcement agencies of America and this arrest stopped the criminal activities of Latin kings. Augustin was awarded 60 years punishment and this turned out to be a major setback for the Latin kings. In coming years a number of other arrests were made that reduced the activities of this gang. These arrests were made for corrupting the police officials and after these arrests, the intrusion o this gang in the American administrative system was well established.
Conclusion
After having observed the above discussion it can be said that the history and present of Chicago is not free from criminal activities. Existence of gang like Latin Kings makes it more prominent. The Latin Kings group is one of the well organized and structured criminal organizations that performed very heinous crimes. Strengths and power of group make it difficult for government bodies to destroy the gang and curtail its activities.
Works Cited
Coen, Jeff. "Feds hope to rattle Latin Kings' operation with arrest of gang leaders." Chicago Tribune 02 October 2009.
David C. Brotherton & Luis Barrios. The Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.
Richardson, John H. "The Latin Kings Play Songs of Love." New York Magazine 17 February 1997: 28-38.
Sanchez, Reymundo. My Bloody Life: The Making of a Latin King. Chicago: Chicago Review Press, 2000.
—. Once A King, Always A King: The Unmaking Of A Latin King. Chicago: Chicago Review Press, 2003.
