Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Western District of Michigan
Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013
Joint Federal and State Investigation Targets Gang Violence, Drug Dealing
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN - A federal grand jury indicted 31 alleged members and associates of the Holland Latin Kings gang for a range of offenses, including conspiring to engage in racketeering, committing violent crimes in aid of racketeering, possessing firearms and conspiring to distribute cocaine and marijuana. The grand jury alleges in the indictment that the Holland Latin Kings gang is an enterprise whose members and associates engaged in crimes of violence and drug trafficking in order to promote the gang and enrich its members while insulating themselves from law enforcement, among other things. The charges are the result of a joint federal and state investigation targeting gang violence and drug trafficking in the Holland, Michigan, area.
U.S. Attorney Patrick Miles was joined in the announcement of the charges by: Gil Salinas, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Ronald J. Frantz, Prosecuting Attorney, Ottawa County; D/F/Lt. Mike Harvitt, Michigan State Police; Gary Rosema, Sheriff, Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office; and Matt Messer, Chief of Public Safety, City of Holland Police Department.
The charges in the indictment are only allegations and are not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty, and the government has the burden of proving their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
