Latin Kings sentenced in Molotov cocktail attacks
Three members of the Latin Kings, the notorious New York street gang, have been slapped with lengthy prison sentences following their convictions in connection with a shocking arson case in Borough Park involving Molotov cocktails.
Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes announced on Nov. 26 that defendants Emil Vazquez, 21, Juan Burkette, 30, and Casimiro Reyes, 21, who along with other members of the gang, were charged with planning and executing the arson of a Borough Park home, were sentenced by New York State Supreme Court Justice Albert Tomei. Vazquez, who was convicted of arson in the first degree, was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. Burkette was convicted of arson in the first degree and was sentenced to 23 years to life. Reyes, who was convicted of conspiracy in the second degree, was sentenced to six to 18 years.
The incident took place on March 1, 2010, according to Hynes, who said the street gang’s “Borough Park Homicide Squad” set fire to a Borough Park house in an attempt to kill a former gang member. The three defendants, along with 15 other gang members, were indicted by a grand jury in July, 2010.