Violent Gang Enforcer Gets More Than 12 Years in Prison

A former enforcer for the Latin Kings gang, who authorities say was involved in violent attacks and shootings targeting rivals, has been sentenced to more than 12 years in prison, federal prosecutors said.

Orlando Santiago-Torres, 27, an enforcer for the New Bedford chapter of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation, was responsible for planning violence, instilling discipline and organizing security at apartments from which the gang distributed drugs, prosecutors said in a statement Friday.

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“As a leader of the New Bedford Chapter of the Latin Kings, Santiago-Torres engaged in at least three shootings, two brutal gang beatings, and dealt drugs, destroying any sense of safety on this city’s streets,” Joseph Bonavolonta, head of the FBI’s Boston office said in a statement.

The Latin Kings are a violent nationwide gang that distributes drugs to generate revenue and engages in violence to further its influence and to protect its turf, prosecutors said.

In one incident in July 2019, Santiago-Torres fired several shots at rival gang members as they fled and in another case in September 2019, he participated in a shooting in which a victim was struck by gunfire and shell casings were linked to a gun recovered from his apartment. Santiago-Torres was also accused of dragging a victim out of a vehicle and beating him in November 2019.

“He actively led and promoted violence in order to instill fear among his adversaries and further the illicit influence of the New Bedford Chapter of the Latin Kings,” U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins said in a statement. He then boasted about his actions online and made additional threats, she said.

Santiago-Torres was among 62 reputed gang leaders, members and associates indicted in December 2019 and he is the 59th to be sentenced, prosecutors said. He pleaded guilty in June to federal racketeering and drug charges.