Former Latin Kings 'Crown' Denies Role In Raid

By ANTHONY McCARTNEY and HOWARD ALTMAN The Tampa Tribune

Published: Aug 23, 2006

TAMPA - Gang life came calling early for Alexander Perez Valdez, who says he was 10 when he joined the notorious Latin Kings.

It ended violently in May, with members beating him for three minutes, bruising his face and threatening to cut off his last connection to the gang - his tattoos.

His removal as the top Latin Kings leader in Tampa three months ago meant that Valdez wasn't among the 39 suspected Latin Kings members arrested during a meeting of statewide leaders Sunday afternoon.

Police and sheriff's officials said Monday that information that developed after Valdez's ouster helped them learn about the gathering.

Now 24, Valdez told The Tampa Tribune he hasn't cooperated with authorities and isn't sure whether he'll testify against one of the men accused of kidnapping and beating him.

Upset that authorities released his name in connection with the case, Valdez tersely denied he aided authorities in any way with Sunday's raid.

"I got out of it," he said. "I had no part in what happened at the Caribbean [American] Club."

Sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said Valdez's name was released only because he was the victim of a crime, not because he was helping in their investigation.

When authorities raided the south Tampa club, they say they nabbed most of the Latin Kings' Florida leadership, confiscated guns and cars and found marijuana and cocaine.

The arrests will likely cause some decrease in crime, Valdez said.

Valdez, who rose to become the group's leader, or "first crown," in Tampa, said he was betrayed by another member who helped authorities coordinate Sunday's bust.

He said his ouster was the result of a "misunderstanding." Sheriff David Gee described the incident Monday as a case of "internal discipline."

Valdez wouldn't talk about why he was targeted but said at least one longtime member of the gang has been helping Tampa police, who conducted a 15-month investigation into the Latin Kings.

He said the man betrayed him and led to his ouster, and also set up the gang members who were arrested Sunday.

Valdez's account could not be verified by the sheriff's office Tuesday evening.

The arrests snared the leaders of Latin King "tribes" in Tampa, St. Petersburg and New Port Richey, as well as West Palm Beach and Miami, authorities said.

Sheriff's and police officials declined to offer many details about their investigation, saying more Latin Kings members might be arrested.

Tampa police had been investigating the group for months when Valdez was ousted as the Tampa leader.

Sheriff's deputies investigated Valdez's beating, and the two agencies combined forces to set up Sunday's raid, which involved dozens of officers, deputies and federal agents, Carter said.

All of those arrested remained jailed Tuesday night on charges of conspiracy to commit racketeering, or RICO. Assistant State Attorney Tom Palermo said Monday that Valdez's beating could serve as one of the predicate acts prosecutors must show occurred to secure RICO convictions.

Valdez said officers might have succeeded in capturing much of the Latin Kings' Florida leadership, but there were plenty of other members in the area who could take their places.

But the gang only has itself to blame for its legal troubles, he said.

"The Latin King nation brought this on themselves."

Part of the job of the "first crown" - the position he formerly held - was to ensure that police didn't infiltrate the group, he said.

He said he felt lucky that he was no longer a member. "I would be in jail for the rest of my life," he said.

As he tries to distance himself from the gang, Valdez said he couldn't understand why his name would come up in news releases about the raid.

"They did their job," he said. "They got what they wanted. Enjoy it. But keep my name out of the media."

Valdez sat down with the Tribune and News Channel 8 Tuesday afternoon to give his side of the story.

Valdez said he thinks Sunday's bust will make a difference on the streets and lead to a short-term reduction in crime.

"I think a lot of people are going to be afraid of coming out of their houses and becoming part of the gang after the incident at the Caribbean Club," he said.

Prosecutors said Monday the group threatened Valdez with future harm, including cutting off his gang tattoos.

They said he agreed to testify against Michael Victor Lugo, who is charged with kidnapping, aggravated battery and aggravated assault stemming from the beating May 20.

Valdez, who is on drug probation until January, denied he is cooperating with that case but did not rule out that he might testify.

Lugo was named during a news conference Monday as the leader, or inca, of the Latin Kings in Florida. A man suspected of serving as acting inca was arrested during Sunday's raid.

Valdez said he has not spoken with any members of the Latin Kings since May.

He said he regrets getting involved in the gang. "I was betrayed, and betrayal hurts."

He said his life has not changed much since being forcibly removed. He continues to work, ride motorcycles and shoot pool, and hope for a better life for his son.

Valdez said he didn't think his son would get into a gang, but he worries about his safety now that his name is out in the public. "I don't want to see my son shot," he said.

Protecting his family is his main concern, he said.

"I'm not afraid of my safety," he said. "Eventually, everyone dies."

Editor Howard Altman can be reached at (813) 259-7629 or haltman@tampatrib.com. Reporter Anthony McCartney can be reached at (813) 259-7616 or amccartney@tampatrib.com.