Boston Latin Kings ‘enforcer’ pleading guilty

A former “enforcer” for a Boston chapter of the violent Latin Kings street gang has agreed to plead guilty to racketeering charges.

Matthew Palacios — also known as “King Nene” — pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy charges and faces about to 20 years behind bars.

Palacios, 26, was arrested and charged in December 2019, at which time he was the enforcer of the Devon Street Kings, U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling’s office said Wednesday.

“As Enforcer, Palacios was responsible for ensuring discipline, meting out punishment to members for violating the rules of the gang and organizing violence against rival gang members and those believed to be cooperating with law enforcement,” Lelling’s office said in a news release.

The Latin Kings — formally the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation — are a sophisticated criminal organization that deals out drugs and violence in the communities where they operate. The Devon Street branch is named after the Grove Hall-area street in Boston where the chapter, which included about a dozen members, began.

Palacios is the 14th Latin Kings member in Massachusetts to plead guilty in what’s been ongoing proceedings against the gang.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3hBE6in