Greenbelt, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams, Jr. sentenced Remy Heath, a/k/a “Remy,” “King Remy,” and “King Mellow,” age 26, of Hyattsville, Maryland today to 130 months 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).

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Assistant Attorney General Lanny A Breuer, of the Department of Justice Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Theresa R. Stoop of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department; Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy; Chief Mark A. Magaw of the Prince George’s County Police Department; and Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks.

“Our dedication and commitment proved pivotal in building a solid and methodical investigation against a violent group of offenders,” says ATF Special Agent in Charge Theresa Stoop. “ATF works everyday to ensure the safety of the public, and we are confident this investigation will allow our citizens to feel safer in their communities.”

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 through the internet. Heath traveled from Maryland to New York for Latin King activities and participated in missions for the gang. 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.

All 18 co-defendants have been convicted in the racketeering conspiracy.

Mr. Rosenstein and Mr. Breuer thanked the ATF-led RAGE Task Force, including the Gaithersburg Police Department; the Montgomery County Police Department; Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office; Prince George’s County Police Department; 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, for their assistance in this investigation and prosecution.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Glatfelter and David Salem, and Lara M. Peirce, a Trial Attorney with the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, who prosecuted the case.