Opinion ID: 6496058
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Latin Kings and Jeremiah Farmer

Text: The Latin Kings are a violent street gang headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and operating out of local chapters known as “hoods.” The Latin Kings engage in various illegal enterprises, including trafficking in drugs, guns, and murder. Latin Kings members are required to “put in work” for the gang, which includes selling drugs, committing robberies (referred to as “hitting licks”) and remitting the proceeds to the gang, attacking members of rival gangs, and intimidating witnesses (called “snitches”) who might testify against Latin Kings members. Latin Kings are also expected to pay membership dues and attend regular hood meetings where they discuss gang business. No. 20-3119 3 Latin Kings identify each other through a series of visual and verbal symbols and identifying marks. They use distinctive handshakes and gang signs which only members are permitted to use. Many Latin Kings get gang symbols tattooed on their bodies and faces. Only current Latin Kings are permitted to have such tattoos. The gang’s rules are laid out in a manifesto distributed to each member of the gang. Although his precise date of initiation is unclear, Farmer became a member of the Latin Kings in the mid-1990s. In 1997, Farmer hit a man with a brick, stole over $1,000, and used the money to buy drugs on behalf of the Latin Kings. That same year, Farmer bragged to Tiffany Malinauskas, his then-girlfriend, about being a King and holding a leadership role within the organizations, had gang tattoos, used gang signs and handshakes with other Latin Kings, and possessed a gang manifesto. In a 2016 phone conversation, Farmer claimed he had been a member of the Latin Kings for 21 years. As a Latin King, Farmer attended mandatory hood meetings, paid gang dues, and committed crimes on behalf of the organization. Farmer sold drugs and guns to Latin Kings members Gabriel Jalomos, and Oscar Gonzalez. Malinauskas witnessed Farmer sell cocaine and crack cocaine. In 1997 or 1998, Farmer shot at a house because the occupants were “a bunch of snitches.” In 2009, Farmer hit Joe Gursky in the face with a crowbar, pointed a gun at him as he lay on the ground, informed Gursky he was under orders to kill him for “snitching on brothers,” and told Gursky not to go to the police. Farmer then stole money from Gursky’s wallet. Farmer remained an active member of the Latin Kings while incarcerated in Indiana State prison in 2010 and bragged about holding a leadership position within the gang. 4 No. 20-3119