FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2009
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CHELSEA GANG LEADER SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS ON FEDERAL FIREARM AND ASSAULT CHARGES
BOSTON, MA - An alleged leader of the Latin Kings in Chelsea was sentenced today in federal court to 25 years in prison on charges of being a felon in possession of ammunition, assault on a federal officer, and discharging a firearm in connection with a crime of violence.
Acting United States Attorney Michael K. Loucks; Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley; Warren T. Bamford, Special Agent in Charge of Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Glenn N. Anderson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Colonel Mark F. Delaney, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Chief Brian A. Kyes of the Chelsea Police Department, announced today that PASCUAL LUNA, age 25, of 70 Grove Street, #3, Chelsea, MA, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Rya Zobel to 25 years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised, arising from an incident in which he shot at two Chelsea police officers, one of whom was also a Special Federal Officer working with the FBI’s North Shore Gang Task Force. Earlier this year, LUNA was convicted by a jury of being a felon in possession of ammunition, assaulting a federal officer, and discharging a firearm in connection with a crime of violence.
Evidence presented at the five-day trial showed that LUNA was an influential member of the Latin Kings in Chelsea. The evidence showed that, on May 1, 2007, during a crowded parade in Chelsea, LUNA, who had several state warrants pending, was in possession of a loaded Smith & Wesson revolver. The evidence further showed that LUNA fled when Chelsea Police officers attempted to arrest him and that, during the chase, LUNA shot at two Chelsea Police officers, one of whom was also a Special Federal Officer with the FBI’s North Shore Gang Task Force. LUNA was eventually captured shortly after the shooting by members of the Chelsea, Everett, and MBTA police departments.
At sentencing, the Court found that LUNA had three or more prior convictions for crimes of violence or drug trafficking, and therefore qualified as an Armed Career Criminal (“ACC”) under federal law. Federal law imposes a mandatory 15-year sentence on anyone who qualifies as an ACC and is convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition. Federal law also makes it a crime to assault a federal officer while he is engaged in official federal duties, and imposes a mandatory 10- year sentence, on and after any other sentence, for discharging a firearm in connection with a crime of violence.
“There is perhaps a tendency to take for granted the fact that police officers, on a daily basis, voluntarily put themselves in harms way to protect innocent citizens,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Loucks. “Cases like this remind us of that reality. Hopefully this case sends the message that, when someone shoots at a police officer, federal, state, and local governments will work together, and spare no resource, to ensure that justice is served on that individual.”
The case was investigated by the Chelsea Police Department, the Everett Police Department, the MBTA Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Massachusetts State Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter K. Levitt in Loucks’ Strike Force Unit.
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