BOSTON – An affiliate of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (Latin Kings) pleaded responsible at this time to firearm and ammunition fees.
Derek Southworth, 34, of Fitchburg, pleaded responsible to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. U.S. Senior District Court docket Decide Rya W. Zobel scheduled sentencing for Might 19, 2022.
On April 18, 2017, Southworth supplied an AK-47 fashion rifle and roughly 49 rounds of ammunition to a cooperating witness. The transaction was captured on audio-video recording. On account of a previous conviction, Southworth is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
The Latin Kings are a violent legal enterprise comprised of hundreds of members throughout the US. The Latin Kings adhere to a nationwide manifesto, make use of an inside judiciary and use a classy system of communication to take care of the hierarchy of the group. As alleged in courtroom paperwork, the gang makes use of drug distribution to generate income, and engages in violence in opposition to witnesses and rival gangs to additional its affect and to guard its turf.
In December 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment alleging racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and firearms fees in opposition to dozens of leaders, members and associates of the Latin Kings. Southworth is the 56th defendant to plead responsible within the case.
The cost of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition supplies for a sentence of as much as 10 years in jail, three years of supervised launch and a wonderful of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district courtroom decide based mostly upon the U.S. Sentencing Tips and different statutory components.
The US Legal professional’s Workplace for the District of Massachusetts; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Particular Agent in Cost of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Division of Correction; and New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro made the announcement. Precious help was additionally supplied by the FBI North Shore Gang Process Drive and the Bristol County and Suffolk County District Legal professional’s Workplaces. Assistant U.S. Legal professional Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
This effort is a part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Process Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level legal organizations that threaten the US utilizing a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency strategy. Further details about the OCDETF Program might be discovered at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The main points contained within the charging paperwork are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed harmless except and till confirmed responsible past an affordable doubt in a courtroom of legislation.