Seven men and one woman from South Florida, including five who are members of the Latin Kings gang, have been charged by a 26-count federal indictment with gun and drug offenses, federal prosecutors announced Friday.
Federal and local law enforcement began their investigation in January 2024 after identifying multiple Latin Kings members in South Florida who were selling meth, cocaine and crack and illegally selling guns, including machine guns, that had been used in “violent acts” throughout South Florida, according to court records. A confidential informant worked with law enforcement during the investigation to buy drugs and guns from gang members.
The indictment, which was unsealed Thursday, charges:
- Dayana Garcia, 34, of Miami;
- Eduardo Monteagudo, 41, of Miami;
- Armando Rodriguez, Jr., 38, of Miami;
- Bernardo Olvera, “King Handsome,” 35, of Miami;
- Jerry Rodriguez, “King Suave,” 30, of West Palm Beach;
- Blas Barrios, “King Blasito,” 44, of Miami;
- Joshua De Paula, “King Vision,” 28, of West Palm Beach; and
- Ricky Mourin,“King Rick,” 33, of Naranja.
All five gang members were arrested on June 27 in different areas of South Florida, prosecutors said. They each face up to life in prison and remain in custody as of Friday.
Gang member Rodriguez, of West Palm Beach, is accused of selling the confidential informant a total of seven guns on four separate dates in Broward and Miami-Dade County and a total of 57 grams of cocaine on one date, according to a criminal complaint. Rodriguez, who has a past felony conviction, allegedly sold a Draco rifle and a Glock machine gun for $1,700 during one of the meetings, which were all recorded.
Rodriguez is facing charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, two counts of distribution of cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, dealing in firearms without a license, felon in possession of a firearm and unlawful possession and transfer of a machine gun.
De Paula, of West Palm Beach, supplied guns to Latin Kings members, according to a criminal complaint. He met with the confidential informant in Miami and Tamarac twice in May and sold two Smith and Wesson handguns for $500 each. De Paula told the informant he had sources to get both rifles and handguns from.
De Paula, who was also previously convicted of a felony, is facing charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, dealing in firearms without a license and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Garcia, Monteagudo and Rodriguez Jr. are accused of conspiring with gang member Olvera to distribute at least 500 grams of cocaine throughout Miami-Dade County, federal prosecutors said in a news release.
Garcia and Monteagudo were arrested in Miami on Thursday and face up to 40 years in prison. They remained in custody as of Friday.
Rodriguez Jr. has not yet been arrested, according to prosecutors. He also faces up to 40 years in prison.
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