Alleged Latin Kings in federal court

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - The alleged gang members of the Latin Kings were in US Federal Court in Grand Rapids for arraignment on various charges after a 76-page indictment was handed down earlier in the week against 31 people.

Scheduled for arraignment on Thursday are Frank Cisneros, Ramon Morales, David Casillas, Joseph Menchaca, Julio Hernandez, Joseph Martinez, Caesar Garza, Matthew Penaloza and Mario Herrera.

On Friday, these people are scheduled for arraignment: Raymon Gaytan, Jr., Joshua Grant, Francisco Mares, Miguel Soto, Yancy Martinez.

At the arraignment and detention hearing Thursday, an ATF agent testified about the organized structure of the Latin Kings.

He said the Holland Latin Kings operate like a business or a club with officers, meetings, a constitution and a manifesto that outlines their beliefs and expectations. Those document also prohibit them from getting into some illegal businesses.

But the rules don't say anything about cocaine and marijuana sales, of which the Kings are now accused.

The rules say they need permission to take a lie detector test or talk to police -- and they have been known to use the Freedom of  Information Act to try to get police information on their members to see if any of them have sold out the gang.

There are still more than a dozen people named in the indictment whose arraignment schedule is not yet known.

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Photos: 28 arrested in Holland Latin Kings bust

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On Wednesday, Desidario Amaro pleaded guilty in federal court to the charges and will be sentenced on June 3. Amaro was identified as the regional leader of the Latin Kings.

Other regional leaders identified are Eric Ruibal and Mario Herrera.

Local leaders, also known as Incas, named are Nicholas Bernal, a former enforcer of the East Side Latin Kings; Ramon Morales with the East Side Latin Kings; and Francisco Martinez Jr. of the West Side Latin Kings.

Caciques -- the second-in-command on a local level and an elected position in the hierarchy -- are Arturo DeLeon of the East Side Latin Kings and Joseph Martinez of the West Side Latin Kings.

Named enforcers in the indictment are Francinet Cruz, Matthew Penaloza, both of the West Side Latin Kings, and Raymon Gaytan Jr of the East Side Latin Kings.

Joseph Menchaca was named as a former treasurer with the East Side Latin Kings.