In 1999, he was sentenced to 13 years in prison, which he began serving at Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary in Kansas and was placed in solitary confinement. [39] In countries such as Spain, Latin Queens are helping to legitimize the ALKQN through integration with government sponsored programs. The letters had been copied and stored by the NY Department of Corrections, who were not aware of the significance of the letters until a federal task force was formed that included NYPD homicide investigators, FBI agents, and DOC investigators. They also refer to him as their "Corona", which means "Crown". These sets are referred to as "chapters" or "tribes", with each reporting to an Inca, Cacíque, Enforcer and Regional Officer.
Signs, symbols, emblems, flags or insignia of groups under which they organize themselves successfully and who insist on bringing their own world-systems into the existing order(s) on a local and/or global scale, often under the threat of severe sanctions from the state or government. The membership in Chicago is estimated to be 20,000 to 35,000. The largest Latino gang in Chicago, and perhaps in the United States, are the Latin King and Queen Nation. Although Felipe was in prison, the government later alleged he had ordered a TOS ("Terminate On Sight") to all Latin Kings for the murder of Cartagena. [33] In February 2011, Velastegui had an additional four years added to his sentence after being convicted of directing the gang from prison, while lieutenants Jose Fabricio Icaza and Maria Torres were sentenced to three-and-a-half years' and two years' imprisonment, respectively. Soon after arriving in New York Felipe was arrested and convicted of murdering his girlfriend. Almighty Latin Kings- Part 10 of 11 View. When any member believes that another member has violated a regulation, they begin the disciplinary process by submitting a Procedures for Violation Form. They devolved, however, into a criminal enterprise operating throughout the United States. At this time, the membership of the Latin Kings is believed to have swelled to 3,000 incarcerated and 4,000 free. The Council sets rules and regulations and holds disciplinary hearings. Membership is predominantly Ecuadorian, although other Latin American and Spanish youths have also been recruited. He designated himself as Inca and Supreme Crown of the state of New York. [34], The inner circle of the Latin Kings in Madrid was dismantled when fifty-four members were arrested during a police operation carried out in February 2010. [6][7][8] Its roots date to 1954 in Chicago, Illinois. Vault Home. [9], The Bloodline Manifesto was founded by Luis "King Blood" Felipe in 1986 in the New York State Collins Correctional Facility. Search Vault. "[13] Kingism is a blend of tribal gang rhetoric and religious mysticism. The gang has more than 25,000[20] members in the city of Chicago alone and has organized chapters in 41 states and several Latin American and European countries, including Mexico, Spain, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Canada, Italy, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, United Kingdom, and others.[21].
Membership is estimated to be 2,200 to 7,500, divided among several dozen chapters operating in 15 cities in 5 states. The head (or heads) of the entire criminal organization are known as "Coronas" (crowns in Spanish). Originally created with the philosophy of overcoming racial prejudice and creating an organization of "Kings," the Latin Kings evolved into a criminal enterprise operating throughout the United States under two umbrella factions—Motherland, also known as KMC (King Motherland Chicago), and Bloodline (New York). After the significant disruption of the Lawrence chapter in February 2004, information provided by cooperating defendants led to the significant disruption of the Springfield chapter in June 2005. [15][16] According to the Manifesto, there are three stages or cycles of Nation life that constitute Kingism:[17], According to the Manifesto, "The New King no longer views the rival warrior as the cause of his ills; instead, he fights against the Anti-King System (social injustices and inequality)". 1996 is believed to be the beginning of the ALKQN's transformation from a street gang to a "street organization. Luis Felipe, also known as "King Blood", is a Cuban-American former gang leader and is the founder of the New York chapter of the Latin Kings (ALKN) street gang.. Born in Havana, Cuba, Felipe came to the United States in the Mariel Boatlift in 1980.