‘Latin Kings’ Gang Leader Freed by ‘First Step Act’ Arrested for Murder After Nationwide Manhunt

A notorious leader of the “Almighty Latin Kings” gang has been arrested for murdering a man less than a year after being freed from federal prison by the “First Step Act.”

Joel Francisco, 41, had been wanted since October 2nd for stabbing to death 46-year-old Troy Pine at a hookah lounge in the Federal Hill neighborhood of Rhode Island, Breitbart News reported. Last week, authorities confirmed that Francisco was arrested at a motel in the San Antonio, Texas area.

In February, Francisco — dubbed the “Crown Prince” of the Latin Kings gang in 2005 — was released from federal prison after President Donald Trump signed into law the First Step Act, promoted by a coalition of Democrats, Republicans, and progressive and libertarian nonprofits.

According to an investigative report by the Providence Journal‘s Brian Amaral and Katie Mulvaney, Francisco was convicted in 2005 for dealing crack cocaine and powder cocaine. The conviction was Francisco’s third drug conviction, thus he was given a mandatory life sentence in federal prison.

Trump admin expands visa bond requirement to 38 countries, with fees up to $15K

Video shows masked thieves using sledgehammer in brazen Lululemon heist before fleeing in U-Haul

Vance reposts sombrero meme mocking Democrats’ Jan 6 candlelight vigil

Biden, Who Donated Less Than 1 Percent of His Income to Charity at Times, Is Getting the Single Most ‘Extravagant’ Presidential Pension in History

Pardoned Jan. 6 participants demand ‘retribution’ in first commemorative march on Capitol

Jasmine Crockett Has Vulgar Response to SCOTUS After She Lost District in Texas

Trump announces Venezuela turning over millions of barrels of oil to US government ‘immediately’

Massive luxury handbag heist caught on camera as heavily armed police swarm California store

Alert: Michael Reagan, Son of President Ronald Reagan, Has Died

Maduro hires Reagan-era DOJ attorney in narco-terrorism case

US gains leverage over Canadian oil, weakens China amid US plans to overhaul Venezuelan oil market

Tim Walz Panicking as DHS Begins ‘Largest Immigration Operation Ever’ in Minnesota

Abrego Garcia says government can’t re-arrest him despite recent deportation order

House Republicans Are Preparing to Override Two Trump Vetoes: Report

Crockett says claims she has a fake ‘street girl’ persona are racist

After Trump signed the First Step Act into law, though, Francisco had his life sentence for crack dealing reduced and he was released in February of this year, along with the other 3,100 convicts released this year by the new law.

Before his release, Francisco pleaded with the court that he had turned his life around, noting his taking part in rehabilitation programs in prison, which advocates of the First Step Act readily cited to make their case that even violent convicts could be reformed and thus released.

On July 13, about six months after being released from prison, Francisco was accused of breaking into the home of his ex-girlfriend and charged with domestic violence. Three months later, on October 2nd, police said Francisco stabbed Pine to death and immediately skipped town in an attempt to evade murder charges.

“I just want an answer,” Pine’s nephew Jay Chattelle told the Providence Journal. “I just want to know what happened to my uncle. But at the same time, you’re thinking, ‘Once this is all done, Uncle Troy is still not here.’”

Before his release from federal prison, Providence law enforcement officials warned that the former gang leader would likely commit additional crimes if released.

“Some criminals deserve to spend their lives incarcerated,” Providence Police Department Deputy Chief Thomas Verdi told the Providence Journal. “Joel is one.”