This section contains the nature of the case and procedural background.

The Latin Kings were a street gang that originated in Chicago in the 1940s. They migrated to Providence in the early 1990s. While some chapters required Hispanic descent to join, others like the Providence chapter allowed all persons of all races and ethnicities to join. They were the typical All-American street gang with their own colors, beads, and tattoos. The gang was a hierarchical organization that required members to pay dues and to obey all orders including those to commit various types of crimes. A federal grand jury indicted a number of the members for a number of crimes. After a 44-day trial, each of the six appellants was convicted of one or more of the following; conspiracy to commit racketeering, violent crimes in aid of racketeering, carjacking, witness intimidation, use of firearms, a felon in possession of firearms. Five were sentenced to life in prison and the sixth Vasquez to 100 months in prison. These appeals followed.

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