The Almighty Latin King Nation, an American Street Gang

The Almighty Latin King Nation is a American street gang founded in Chicago in 1940, and active mostly in Chicago. Latin King documents reveal a man by the name "Gino Gustavo Colon" (a.k.a. Lord Gino) is considered the "SUN" of the Almighty Latin King Nation in Chicago and has been for a long time. Latin King headquarters is located on Beach and Spaulding in Northwest Chicago. Luis Felipe created the manifesto for the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (ALKQN) based on teachings he had picked up from his time in Chicago, the "motherland." Felipe designated himself as Inca and Supreme Crown. In 1995 Antonio Fernandez was designated Inca and Supreme Crown of New York State and New Jersey, and the ALKQN once again began a transformation. The Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation is the largest Chicago-based street gang in the United States. The Almighty Latin King Nation first emerged in Chicago during the 1940s when several young Puerto Rican males organized into a club. Their goal was to help each other overcome the problems of racism and prejudice that newly arriving Puerto Rican immigrants were experiencing. The Latin Kings are Chicago's largest gang and have been involved in numerous violent acts. Although the original members were of Puerto Rican decent, most members are now Mexican-American. They now allow members of all races to join, yet they are mostly composed of Spanish, Caribbean, Latvian, Italian, Portuguese, Mexican or South American members. As time progressed, the group's members became involved in violent crimes including murders, drug trafficking and robberies.

With such ferocity and cult-like devotion the Latin Kings rose to be the most feared and revered gangs inside and outside the penal system in the state of Illinois. The Latin Kings ordered "hits" against correctional officers, killed disobedient members and did not hesitate to commit acts of violence against rival gang members. Latin King gang members vowed to lay down their lives for their "Nation", which also meant extreme internal discipline and organized fear. One such example was the decapitation and dismemberment of a disrespecful member, Carlos Robles, in Stateville Correctional Center. To dispose of the evidence, the body parts were thrown into a large industrial meat grinder--with meat loaf--and served to the prison population. No traces of the skin, bones, teeth, or blood of Carlos Robles were ever found. That is for years. The skull bone apparently simply "rolled around" in the meat grinder like a basketball spinning on a net rim, and thus it had to be buried. The skull was dug up in 1995 in the yard at Stateville.

To begin their meetings, members may face the East (which is where the Sun rises) and recite one of the various Latin King prayers to Yahve (The Almighty Father and King of Kings)and pledge to be ever faithful to the Nation. These meetings are also used by members to discuss recent events, dues, retaliation, position responsibilities and elections etc... When compared to most street gangs, the Latin Kings are generally more structured and organized. The gang's rules are strictly enforced and some members celebrate January 6th as "King's Holy Day" and the first week in March as "King's Week."