Alleged Latin Kings Members Charged with Kidnapping and Firearm Offenses

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Brian C. Turner, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Hartford Police Chief David Rosado today announced that, on October 2, 2018, a grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment charging five alleged members of the Almighty Latin Kings Nation (“Latin Kings”) with kidnapping a firearm offenses.

The four-count indictment charges each of the following individuals with one count of kidnapping, one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, one count of carrying and using a firearm in during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence:

LUIS PITT, a.k.a. “Macho,”Cuz-o,” 23, of Hartford
JONATHAN OTERO, a.k.a. “Jax” 25, of Hartford
PEDRO CARILLO, a.k.a. “P,” 23, of Hartford
ANTHONY CARILLO, a.k.a. “Boogie,” 20, of Hartford
JOSUE FRANCO, a.k.a. “Sway,” 23, of Hartford

Pitt and Anthony Carillo were arrested today.  They appeared before U.S. Magistrate Robert A. Richardson in Hartford and are detained.  Otero, Pedro Carillo and Franco are incarcerated in state custody for unrelated offenses.

As alleged in the indictment, on January 26, 2018, Franco and Anthony Carillo lured an individual (“the victim”) to a residence on Benton Street in Hartford.  When the victim entered the residence, Pitt and Otero were waiting.  Pitt, Otero, Anthony Carillo and Franco then threatened, assaulted, and tortured the victim and prevented him from leaving the residence.  After the victim was restrained, Pedro Carillo arrived at the residence and participated in the ongoing assault and torture of the victim.  At times, the victim was threatened and assaulted with a firearm.

The indictment alleges that the defendants forced the victim to call his father and demand a ransom.  The victim was threatened that, if the victim’s family did not pay the ransom, the victim would be harmed or killed.

It is alleged that the victim was moved to different locations in order to obtain the ransom.  The victim eventually escaped.

The kidnapping charges carry a maximum term of imprisonment of life, and the firearm charges carry a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of seven years.

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force and the Hartford Police Department.  The Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.  The Hartford Police Department’s Major Crimes Division has provided critical assistance to the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming.