Head of Latin Kings arrested in Brick Township

BY JENNIFER DOME
Staff Writer

BRICK — The leader of the Philadelphia Latin Kings gang was arrested in the township last Thursday, a week after he was indicted on charges of racketeering related to murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking and robbery.

William Sosa, 25, is the “Inca,” or head, of the Almighty King and Queen Nation of the Latin Kings in Pennsylvania. Known as “King Homicide,” Sosa was the only one not apprehended when the FBI executed arrest warrants for 17 members of the gang on Jan. 28.

Investigators learned Sosa had relatives and associates living in New Jersey, specifically in the Lakewood area, according to FBI spokesperson Special Agent Jerri Williams in Philadelphia. Information developed that he was staying at a house on Arlene Court in Brick, Williams said.

On Feb. 3, the FBI S.W.A.T. team from the Newark division and the Brick police department arrested Sosa. Three other individuals also were taken into custody, but the female and two males were released and no charges were lodged against them, Williams said.

The Brick police department decided to temporarily lock down the nearby schools — Brick Memorial High School and Lanes Mill Elementary School — while the arrest was taking place. The schools’ principals were notified just before dismissal at 1:50 p.m., according to Jennifer Strano, the public information officer for the school district. All students were kept in their classrooms for about 11 minutes and then dismissal carried on as usual. Strano said the high school students were told the school was running a “homeland security drill.” Notice was also given to parents who were waiting in front of Lanes Mill Elementary School to pick up their children, she said.

Traffic was diverted away from the area where the arrest took place, Williams said.

FBI spokesman with the Newark division, John Conway, said the Latin Kings investigation was part of the FBI’s RICO unit, or Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations.