‘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.

Popular Potato Product Faces Recall in 26 States

Can Trump Really Denaturalize Somalis En Masse?

GOP lawmaker renews oversight hearing request of DHS agencies following fatal shooting in Minneapolis

Meet the longtime biz partner of Ilhan Omar’s husband as questions swirl over her skyrocketing net worth

Anti-ICE Church Harasser Posted Profane, Ranting Video Before Arrest, Called to ‘Shut This Country Down’

Minnesota school board member Chauntyll Allen ripped by state lawmaker after anti-ICE church invasion arrest

ACLU seeks reinstated constraints on federal officers in Minnesota after Alex Pretti shooting

Narratives clash after Trump and victim’s family react to second Minneapolis ICE shooting

Neonatal Nurse Pleads No Contest to 9 Charges of Abusing Infants – Will Serve Disgraceful Sentence Despite Damning Video Evidence

Trump hails ‘great and very brave’ UK soldiers after slamming NATO allies’ Afghanistan service

Lutnick Rips Globalist Elites Straight to Their Faces for Pillaging the American Dream

European leaders insist ‘shifting international order’ is inevitable while holding out hope instability will pass

CNN Analyst: Even Most Democrat Voters Hate the Democratic Party

Gambling industry bankrolls members of Congress who push pro-gambling legislation

Judge blocks Trump admin from ‘destroying or altering’ evidence in deadly Minneapolis shooting

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.”