November 9, 10

NEWS / Latin Kings Leader Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy

Defendant Held No. 2 Position in the MOG Tribe

WASHINGTON - Remy Heath, aka “Remy,” “King Remy,” and “King Mellow,” 26, of Hyattsville, Md., pleaded guilty today to 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).



The guilty plea was announced by Assistant Attorney General Lanny A Breuer of the Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Theresa R. Stoop of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) - Baltimore Field Division; Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County, Md., Police Department; Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy; Chief Roberto L. Hylton of the Prince George’s County, Md., Police Department; and Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey.



According to Heath’s plea agreement, 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.



Heath was an original member of the Royal Lion Tribe in Maryland, which later became MOG, and then the Sun Tribe. Heath joined the Royal Lion Tribe of the Latin Kings in early summer of 2007. Heath attended Latin King meetings where dues were collected from members and gang business was discussed, and he communicated with Latin King members and associates by phone and the Internet. Heath traveled from Maryland to New York for Latin King activities. From November 2008 to March 2009, Heath held a leadership position in the gang, serving as the Second Crown or Cacique for the MOG tribe.



Heath faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams Jr. has scheduled sentencing for May 27, 2011, at 9:30 a.m. Heath remains detained.



To date, six co-defendants have pleaded guilty to the racketeering conspiracy.

The ATF-led Regional Anti-Gang Enforcement (RAGE) Task Force, which includes the Gaithersburg, Md., Police Department; the Montgomery County Police Department; the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office; the Prince George’s County Police Department; the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office; the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the Maryland National Capital Park Police - Prince George’s County Division; and the Maryland State Police; as well as the New York Police Department, the U.S. Secret Service and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation provided assistance in the investigation and prosecution.



The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Glatfelter and David Salem, and Trial Attorney Lara M. Peirce of the Criminal Division’s Gang Unit.

http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2010/November/10-crm-1270.html

Tags: criminal investigation,