State Latin Kings Leader Pleads Guilty to Drug Conspiracy

A top leader of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation pleaded guilty today to drug conspiracy charges, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced.

Bienvenido Nunez, known as "King Apache,” 33, admitted in federal court that he conspired with members of the Latin Kings, including those in New Bedford, to possess crack cocaine with the intent to distribute.

On Sept. 29, 2019, Nunez was captured in a video recorded in the basement of a Latin Kings trap house at 358 North Front St. bagging cocaine base for street-level distribution, according to an indictment for the multi-year investigation known as Operation Throne Down.

A lengthy wiretap investigation that involved confidential informants also placed Nunez at the scene of discussions involving other members of the state's "Crown Council," or leadership team. Nunez became Massachusetts Inca after former statewide leader Juan Jose Liberato, or "King Prodigy," was ousted from that position, the indictment states.

Jorge Rodriguez, second-in-command of the Massachusetts Latin Kings and an associate of Nunez on the Crown Council, pleaded guilty to federal charges in June. Rodriguez, or "King G," ran a cocaine base distribution network that used multi-unit apartment buildings known as “trap houses” to distribute the narcotics.

The sprawling document describes the New Bedford Chapter of the Latin Kings as "extremely violent" and running an organized crime enterprise that has had "a significant negative effect upon the character of North New Bedford."

U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel scheduled Nunez' sentencing for Feb. 11. At the time of his arrest, he was identified as the Inca, or leader, of the Massachusetts Latin Kings.

It's a second federal takedown for Nunez. In 2015 he was convicted in Massachusetts of cocaine distribution and possession charges and of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and sentenced to 18 months in prison.