[FedCom] Philly area FBI activity

[Ben Russell]

I'm guessing that the operation I heard on Friday morning may have been this:

Posted on Sat, Jan. 29, 2005 

17 alleged members of Latin Kings face charges

U.S. Attorney Patrick L. Meehan said the gang "engaged in drug trafficking,
murder, assault, kidnapping, robbery, rape and more."

By John Shiffman

Inquirer Staff Writer


Federal authorities yesterday charged 17 alleged members of the Latin Kings
gang with racketeering related to murder, kidnapping, assault and heroin
distribution.

U.S. Attorney Patrick L. Meehan alleged that the local chapter of the Latin
Kings, known as the Philadelphia Lion Tribe, "sought to maintain their
territory, power and profits through intimidation and violence."

"This organization represents itself as a law-abiding, benevolent group,"
Meehan said at a news conference. "However, as the indictment alleges, those
claims are merely camouflage for what this enterprise really is: a
well-structured gang of thugs that deals in drug trafficking, murder, assault,
kidnapping, robbery, rape and more."

Meehan said that the gang, centered in North Philadelphia and West Kensington,
enforced its rules through tribunals and that "punishments for violations
included beatings, torture, dismemberment, stabbing, shooting, burning and
murder." He said gang members burned off the tattoos of one disgruntled female
member, raped another, and threatened to chop off a male member's hands.

The alleged leader of the organization, a Philadelphia resident named William
Sosa, known within the gang as "King Homicide," was still at large yesterday,
but all others charged have been arrested. Ten appeared before U.S. Magistrate
Judge Carol S. Moore Wells in Philadelphia and were ordered detained until a
hearing next week, Assistant U.S. Attorney David Troyer said. Others were
jailed in the Chicago area or were already in custody.

Among other crimes, the government alleged, Sosa, 25, issued "terminate on
sight" orders to gang members, although only one such murder was carried out.

Ron Hosko, the assistant special agent in charge of the FBI's Philadelphia
office, said authorities intervened before killings were carried out. "In the
coming weeks, these defendants are going to be stunned by law enforcement's
knowledge of their activities," Hosko said.

Meehan said the FBI began investigating the case about a year ago. According to
the indictment, some gang members who were not charged purchased drugs from an
undercover police officer.

The others charged from Philadelphia are: Jonathan Santana, 19; Aaron Martinez,
33; Edwin Irizarry, 26; Alex Melendez, 25; Angel Aviles, 35; Clement Garcia,
31; Elvis Ortiz, 24; Angel Serrano, age unknown; Leyda Rey-Gonzalez, 20; Oscar
Bermudez, 29; Roceleen Resto, 27; and Reyes Sanchez, 20.

The other defendants are Michael J. Garcia, 25, of Chicago; Joseph Wallenberg,
30, of Yorkville, Ill.; and Robert Rosado, 25, of Vineland, N.J.

If convicted, all but two face up to a life sentence in prison. Garcia faces 10
years, and Rey-Gonzalez faces 30 years.

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Contact staff writer John Shiffman at 215-854-2658 or jshiffman at phillynews.com.


		
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