U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams sentenced Erick Roman, a/k/a Erick Javier Sierra, Malian-T and King Malian-T, age 34, of Laurel, Maryland, late yesterday to 60 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise, in connection with his gang activities as a member and leader of the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (Latin Kings).
U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein said, The strategy of combining the resources and intelligence of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to pursue federal racketeering charges against criminal gangs is proving effective in removing violent offenders from the streets and making our neighborhoods more safe.
As the founder and leader of a Latin Kings tribe in Maryland, Mr. Roman orchestrated a series of violent crimes, including a murder, firebombings and robberies, said Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division. As this case shows, the Justice Department is committed to working with state and local law enforcement to target the leadership of local gangs and make our communities safer.
According to court documents and statements made at yesterday’s hearing, the Latin Kings is a violent street gang with thousands of members across the country and overseas. The Latin Kings have a detailed and uniform organizational structure, which is outlined – along with various prayers, codes of behavior and rituals – in a written manifesto widely distributed to members throughout the country. Members of the Latin Kings are also traditionally given King Names or Queen Names, which are names other than their legal names, by which they are known to members of the gang and to others on the street. At the local level, groups of Latin Kings are organized into tribes, including, the Royal Lion Tribe, MOG, Sun Tribe and UTL.
Prosecutors advised the court that Roman brought the Latin Kings to Maryland and founded the Royal Lion Tribe. He served as the Inca of the tribe, and in that capacity sanctioned or ordered numerous violent acts, including a home invasion robbery of a drug dealer at the Marylander Condominiums in Langley Park, Maryland, the robbery of a prostitute at a motel in Laurel, Maryland, the firebombing of an apartment on July 24, 2007, the firebombing of a house on January 8, 2008, and the murder of John Realpe-Montoya on April 25, 2008.
For More News On White Collar Crime and Fraud Be Sure To Visit The
WALL STREET SWINDLER REVIEW at www.wallstreetswindler.com
