The alleged leader of the Latin Kings gang, reportedly one of the largest street gangs in the United States, was sentenced to the maximum punishment he could receive in prison on Wednesday, reports WGNtv.
Augustin Zambrano received the hefty, 60-year prison sentence for his convictions on several federal charges - including racketeering, extortion and assault - in August. The charges were connected to the Latin Kings' alleged drug-dealing operation.
Zambrano's reign over the Latin Kings and its territory running from Chicago's Little Village to Texas has been compared to imprisoned Larry Hoover's, the leader of the Gangster Disciples, according to WGNtv.
Like other infamous crime bosses before him, Zambrano has had a slew of nicknames, including "Tino", "Old Man", and "the Larry Hoover of the Latin Kings."
Despite the odd names, Zambrano is said to have ran a very deadly operation consisting of more than 10,000 members in Illinois, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.
"He put leaders in place who shared his vision ... to see to it that the Latin Kings acted barbarically," prosecutors wrote in a court filing.
Despite the allegations, Zambrano's attorney has said he plans to appeal the convictions.
Criminal defendants have the right to appeal their conviction and are required to be given representation for their first appeal. This right is often referred to as the "appeal as a matter of right." If a defendant cannot afford a criminal defense attorney, the government will provide one for the first appeal.
For more information about the right to a criminal appeal, see our Related Resources section.
Related Resources:
- Find a Chicago Criminal Defense Attorney (FindLaw)
- Right to Assistance of Counsel: First Appeal (FindLaw)
- Sex Trafficking in Chicago Nets Chicago Vice Lords (The Chicago Criminal Law Blog)
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