Crime

Authorities: Former ‘enforcer’ of Mass. Latin Kings sentenced

August 18, 2016

1 minute to read

A man prosecutors say was the former “enforcer” of the Massachusetts Latin Kings was sentenced for selling cocaine and illegally possessing a firearm Thursday in U.S. District Court in Springfield.Bienvenido Nuñez, 38, of Springfield, was sentenced to a year and a half prison time and three years supervised release, after pleading guilty to charges in May of this year. His sentencing follows that of Jose Cartagena, 38, for heroin distribution. Prosecutors say Cartagena was the “Inca,” or leader, of the Springfield Latin Kings. He was sentenced to 20 months in prison earlier this month. Lawyers for both men deny their clients had leadership roles in the Chicago-based gang. “That was not established nor was it admitted to and it wasn’t part of the plea agreement,” said Nuñez’s attorney, Charles Dolan. Dolan said his client is affiliated with the gang, but was not the Massachusetts “enforcer,” typically deemed the second highest role within the state-wide hierarchy of the gang. Cartagena’s attorney, William O’Neil, previously

denied his client had a leadership role in the gang, and casted doubt on the government’s cooperating witness who suggested otherwise.

According to court documents, a longtime member of the Latin Kings assisted federal agents in the investigation, and made controlled buys of drugs and firearms.

The informant also provided agents with a copy of the gang’s “Manifesto,” and information about the hierarchy system within the gang, according to court documents.

Nuñez and Cartagena were two of 12 alleged Latin King gang members arrested in Western Massachusetts last year, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s office.

An investigation into the gang and narcotics distribution in the area began in October 2014, after an uptick in violent disputes with rival gangs over “drug turf” led to armed assaults and murder, according to the statement.