Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (a.k.a. Latin Kings): Profile
History
The Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation, a.k.a. the Latin Kings, was started in Chicago, Illinois during the 1940s by a group of individuals of Hispanic descent. Their alleged motivation for forming this group was an attempt to overcome the prejudices they faced. They wanted to rise above this racism and create an organization of so-called “Kings” equipped to fight off injustice, and to better themselves and their communities. Their lives would, thus, be fulfilled. Oddly enough, most of its members were already incarcerated on serious criminal charges. Inevitably, the Latin Kings became one of Chicago’s largest and most violent street gangs.
To be a member of the Latin Kings, an individual must have a Latin bloodline. While most of the members were Puerto Rican, a Latin King could be Spanish, Caribbean, Latvian, Italian, Portuguese or South American. As time went on, the purity of a member’s breeding was not as significant as the need to create a large membership. Other ethnic groups were allowed membership and power in numbers became the goal. The Latin Kings membership, however, remains mostly Hispanic.
New York’s Development
During the 1980s, Felix Millet and Nelson Millan, two inmates in the Connecticut prison system, created the Almighty Latin King Nation of Connecticut. They fine tuned the concept of the Chicago Latin Kings and created the King Manifesto. This manifesto provided their rules, procedures and concept guide. It explained “Kingism,” and was well written and carefully contemplated. The word of Millet and Millan spread through the Connecticut prison system rapidly. Soon the Latin Kings, also called the Almighty Latin Charter Nation, became the largest gang in Connecticut.
In 1986, Luis Felipe, calling himself King Blood, took the Connecticut King Manifesto and added a few of his own writings and prayers. He formed the Almighty Latin King Nation of New York State at the Collins Correctional Institution. He was serving a lengthy sentence for attempting to kill his live-in girlfriend. Within a few years, the Latin Kings spread through the New York State prison system and onto the streets. New York City, by the early 1990s, had several hundred members which grew into the thousands throughout New York State and nearby New Jersey by the mid 1990s.
Although Felipe was incarcerated, he produced many loyal Latin Kings who, upon release from prison, hit the streets and recruited. These loyal soldiers established chapters throughout New York, New Jersey and certain areas of Pennsylvania. These chapters were called “Tribes” and used animal names, such as Tiger Tribe, Wolf Tribe and Lion Tribe to distinguish themselves. Each chapter maintained their own hierarchical structure. The leader was the Primero Corona (First Crown), the second in command was the Segundo Corona or second crown, the third crown was the Warlord or enforcer, the fourth crown was the Counselor who conducted the Latin King training lessons, and the fifth crown was the treasurer who collected the weekly dues and fines.
By 1994, New York City experienced the reality of the Latin Kings. They were the most violent and largest street gang New York City had ever seen. By 1995, the Latin Kings were subject of a massive RICO (Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization) investigation being conducted by the United States Attorney’s Office, FBI-New York and the NYPD. It resulted in the arrest of several dozen members of the Latin Kings on a multitude of charges from arson to murder. The Latin Kings were found to be connected with dozens of murders, kidnapping, drug dealing and assaults as usual gang business. All defendants but one, Luis Felipe, pleaded guilty. After trial, Luis Felipe was sentenced to life in prison with no parole.
In 1996, the new leader of the Latin Kings in New York, which seemed to be spearheading other East Coast Latin King chapters, was Antonio “King Tone” Fernandez. Fernandez attempted to polish the image of the Latin Kings by the use of the media, selected sympathizers and political organizations. He advocated the Latin Kings as a brotherhood of men and woman attempting to better their lives and communities through unity and education. As Fernandez went on a mass media spree of propaganda, the NYPD and Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office targeted Fernandez and the Latin Kings.
By 1999, this joint investigation included the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, United States Attorney’s Office, Bronx District Attorney’s Office, FBI and the NYPD. Labeled “Operation Crown,” the investigation resulted in the arrest of over two hundred members of the Latin Kings in New York and New Jersey, including King Tone. The charges included conspiracy to distribute narcotics, narcotics possession, weapons possession and murder. In February 1999, Antonio “ King Tone” Fernandez pleaded guilty to charges related to this arrest and denounced the Latin Kings in a Federal Courtroom in Brooklyn.
Today, the Latin Kings on the East Coast remain loosely connected to the Chicago chapters. However, theChicago chapters, under “Lord Gino” Gustavo Colon, who is incarcerated, have been courting the New York, NJ, PA chapters to align with the Chicago Latin Kings.
Activities
- Drug Sales
- Con Games (Bail Scam)
- Shootings
- Robbery
- Burglary
- Racketeering
- Murder
- Crime for Hire
Structure
East Coast Structure*
Overall Leader: Inca
Advisor: Counselor
Region Leaders: New York-Upstate
New York-Long Island
New York City
Rhode Island
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Connecticut
Massachusetts
Delaware
Florida (Chicago connection)
Florida (New York connection)
Division Leaders: Primero Corona (First Crown)– First Division, Second Division
Segundo Corona (Second Crown) “ “
Tercero Corona (Third Crown)
Cuarto Corona (Fourth Crown)
Quinto Corona (Fifth Crown)
Tribe Leaders: Primero (Leader) – Tiger Tribe, Cacique Tribe, Arawak Tribe
Segundo (Vice President)
Tercero (Warlord)
Cuarto (Counselor/Educator)
Quinto (Treasurer)
Kings, Queens, Probationary Kings and Queens, Pee Wees
* Some East Coast Latin King Tribes affiliate with Chicago’s leadership and do not follow this structure.
Colors
- Gold (Yellow)
- Black
- Red
Graffiti
Symbols
Hand Signs
Clothing
- LA Kings Clothing
- Gold Fubu Jerseys with 05
- Karl Kani Clothing
- Black and yellow articles of clothing
Terminology
- Amor de Rey: Love to the King
- Amor de Reyna: Love to the Queen
- Corona: Crown
- Black Pearl: Secret Hit Team
- Black Rose: Secret Mission; Murder contract
- B.O.S.: Beatdown On Sight
- Manito: Latin King Brother
- Manita: Latin Queen/sister
- Mission: Job; contract
- Motherland: Chicago
- Physical: Beatdown as a punishment for a rules violation
- Rey: King
- Reyna: Queen
- T.O.S.: Terminate On Sight
- Universal: Meeting
- 360: Universal; Meeting; 360 Degrees
- 5: Represents the five (5) points of the LK crown (Honesty, Unity, Knowledge, Love, Respect)
Affiliations*
- PEOPLE NATION ALLIANCE and People Nation Gangs
- Netas
- La Familia
- Vice Lords
- Bloods
- F.A.L.N. (Puerto Rican Terrorist Organization)
- Black Panthers
- Young Lords
* Affiliations vary by region. Even gang affiliations can end up in violence with the LK’s.
Rivalries
- FOLK NATION and Folk Nation Gangs
- Crips
- Dominican’s Don’t Play
- Dominican Posse
- Dominican Power
- Los Papi Chulos
- Los Solidos
- Mara Salvatrucha
- Bloods (some sets)
