Latin King details plot in trial on gun, narcotics conspiracy

Luis Tambito, an ex-Latin King attack coordinator, testified Wednesday about a 2010 plan to kill John Maldonado. Tambito said the gang suspected Maldonado of killing an aspiring member and wanted revenge. Above, Shameeka Burks, Maldonados former girlfriend, in Newburgh the day after his death.CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

Published: 2:00 AM - 06/28/12

WHITE PLAINS John "Tarzan" Maldonado spent his final hours in what he must have thought was a safe place.

An FBI video camera recorded him standing, a drink in hand, on the corner of William Street and Benkard Avenue as it grew dark on March 12, 2010. Even then, Luis "King Luch" Tambito testified on Wednesday, the Latin Kings were laying plans to kill him.

A 20-year-old named Jerome "Rude Boy" Scarlett had died in a shooting the night before. A memorial of lit candles shined in the video as the Kings wandered in and out of the frame.

Tambito testified Scarlett and Maldonado both hoped to become full gang members and that he had selected them to shoot rival Bloods on Lander Street. Maldonado came back. Scarlett didn't. The Kings were unhappy, and rumors soon circulated that it was Maldonado who shot Scarlett. Tambito said they were convinced when a friendly Blood told them none of the Bloods had shot back.

"We had heard rumors that Tarzan was infiltrating our gang that he was working with the Bloods and that's why he killed Rude Boy," Tambito said.

Tambito was once the gang's Third Crown, a position responsible for coordinating attacks on rivals and punishing Kings who broke gang rules. He admitted to murders, stabbings, beatings and shootings as part of a plea agreement. On Wednesday, he testified in federal court in the case of four defendants Nelson "King Murder" Calderon, Angelo "King Truth" DeLeon, Eva Cardoza and Wilfredo "Frito" Sanchez who face gun and narcotics conspiracy charges.

Defense attorneys said Tambito is a lifelong thug who chose violence and self-preservation virtually every time he had an opportunity to do right. By his own admission, Tambito orchestrated Maldonado's murder and then watched the dying 21-year-old twitch and mumble, eventually heading up the block to buy a couple of beers. He could have faced death penalty-eligible charges but agreed to cooperate with the government.

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In testimony, anatomy of a homicide