Worcester Man Charged In Massive Latin Kings Gang Bust

WORCESTER, MA — A Worcester man is one of 62 people who have been charged in connection to a bust of the Latin Kings street gang across three states. Federal authorities say that Alvin Mojica sold cocaine in Worcester.

Hundreds of federal and local police across New England executed 31 search warrants across 24 locations on Thursday morning, the culmination of a five-year RICO — Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act — investigation into the gang.

The investigation found evidence that the Latin Kings conspired to murder more than 10 people, operated a large-scale drug trafficking operation and committed robberies, shootings and stabbings. Police also located two missing children during the raids: a 14-year-old from New Bedford, and a 16-year-old from Fall River

The highest-ranking member arrested was Michael Cecchetelli, of Springfield, who went by the name "King Merlin" and oversaw the east coast operations of the Latin Kings. Other high-ranking members arrested in the sweep included East Coast Crown Council chairwoman Esther Ortiz, a.k.a. "Queen India," and Hector Manuel Vega, a.k.a. "King Demon," a Crown Council member from Connecticut.

Mojica, the Worcester man swept up in the arrests, is facing a single count of distribution and possession of cocaine. Police also seized a vehicle owned by Mojica as part of a drug forfeiture allegation. Mojica, who went by the name "King Humble," was already in the Worcester County Jail, according to federal court documents.

Patch editor Dave Copeland contributed to this report