Feds want to seize alleged gang leader’s toys

The government wants to seize jet skis, dirt bikes and a dune buggy among other sport vehicles owned by a powerful alleged Latin Kings leader in New Bedford who is facing federal racketeering charges.

Jose Rodriguez — the “Inca” or alleged leader of the gang’s New Bedford chapter — is facing a drug charge along with a racketeering offense in the case stemming from a five-year investigation of the Latin Kings leading to raids and arrests in December.

Feds say Rodriguez, with his higher-ranking brother, oversaw beatings and attempted murders in a bloody gang war in New Bedford and joined in dealing punishment to Latin Kings who fell out of favor with leadership.

Prosecutors on Tuesday filed a list of Rodriguez’s assets sought for forfeiture, including: three jet skis, one ATV, two dirt bikes, three sport motorcycles, a dune buggytype vehicle, a trailer, a scooter and a go-kart.

Most of the vehicles are models from 2008 and older, and the Polaris off-road vehicle listed is not dated. Newer models of the Polaris vehicle retail for as much as a new car, according to the manufacturer’s listings.

It’s unclear if Rodriguez’s vehicles are the same ones feds confiscated in “Operation Throne Down” raids in December across southern New England, with a BMW, a Porsche and jet skis among the items seized then.

In U.S. District Court on Tuesday, less than half of the attorneys representing the 64 alleged Latin King defendants were present as prosecutors argued before a magistrate judge for a protective order on court documents, to contain the threat of witness retaliation alleged by Latin King chapters.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip Mallard described an incident from a 190-page affidavit in which Latin King members last May attacked two victims at their car in New Bedford who allegedly called police on criminal activities in the neighborhood, slashing their tires and firing shots as the victims drove away.

The alleged shooter, Jayco Reyes-Smith, currently a fugitive, spoke with Latin Kings after the shooting, who assured him he would be relatively safe to return to New Bedford.

“They are essentially assuring if he comes up to serve the dangerousness time,” Mallard said, referring to Reyes-Smith’s potential arrest and time in custody, “those witnesses aren’t appearing because (Latin Kings) are already talking to them.”

Defense attorneys said the conditions of a proposed protective order, allowing eight laptops among all defendants in custody at different facilities, would make it difficult for defendants to sort through the approximately 40,000 documents in discovery.

Magistrate Judge Marianne Bowler took the issue under advisement.