United States v. Casillas

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Rios, Casillas, and 29 co-defendants were charged in a “sprawling racketeering indictment” involving the Latin Kings. Count One, under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, 18 U.S.C. 1961, alleged that the Holland, Michigan Latin Kings was a racketeering enterprise that “was and is overseen by, has always had connections to, and received directions from, the Chicago Heights” Latin Kings, alleged 129 overt acts in furtherance of the 20-year conspiracy, and contained special sentencing allegations. Rios and Casillas were each charged regarding the distribution of cocaine; Rios was charged with three assaults with the intent to commit murder. Count Fourteen alleged conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine from 2006-2012. Three witnesses described the national Latin Kings and how the Holland Latin Kings fit into that structure. Other testimony, largely from cooperating co-defendants, corroborated that testimony and provided details about specific charged acts. The jury found Rios and Casillas guilty of Counts One and Fourteen and found each responsible for the distribution of five kilograms or more of cocaine, 1993-2013. Rios was sentenced to concurrent terms of 240 months on Count One and 300 months on Count Fourteen, with 61 months of credit “for gang-related discharged terms of imprisonment.” Casillas was sentenced to concurrent terms of 200 months and 360 months, with 148 months of credit. The Sixth Circuit​ affirmed both convictions and sentences, rejecting various challenges to testimony and jury instructions. View "United States v. Casillas" on Justia Law