Former Member of North Shore Latin Kings Chapter Sentenced for Drug Distribution Charges

 BOSTON – A former member of the North Shore Chapter of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (“Latin Kings”) was sentenced today on drug distribution charges.

Jesus Diaz, a/k/a “King Kiko,” 37, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to 72 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In December 2020, Diaz pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base, also known as “crack” cocaine.

The Latin Kings are a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. As alleged in court documents, the gang uses drug distribution to generate revenue, and engages in violence against witnesses and rival gangs to further its influence and to protect its turf.

Diaz admitted to selling a cooperating witness over 70 grams of cocaine base, or “crack” cocaine, in a series of audio/video recorded sales that took place between January and March of 2015. 

In December 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment alleging racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and firearms charges against 62 leaders, members and associates of the Latin Kings. Diaz is the 21^st defendant sentenced in the case.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was also provided by the FBI North Shore Gang Task Force and the Bristol County and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip A. Mallard and Lauren Graber of Mendell’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.