‘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.

House Republicans pass rival DHS plan, setting up Senate fight as shutdown set to become longest in history

Fulton County makes case for return of 2020 ballots seized by FBI

At least 2 students killed, several injured in school bus crash in Tennessee: ‘A parent’s worst nightmare’

Trump touts progress in Iran talks and success in Venezuela, says ‘Cuba is next’

Watchdog blasts BBC, CNN, NYT for applying ‘war crime’ label almost exclusively to US, Israel in Iran conflict

LA United School District scandal leads to charges as $22M scheme allegedly drained funds meant for students

Pima County deputy accused of kidnapping woman in custody, fired from department investigating Guthrie case

Leftist Bob Costas Admits Men Have No Business in Women’s Sports: ‘Common Sense Is Not Transphobic’

Utah’s Republican Governor Signs Bill Protecting Gunmakers from Frivolous Lawsuits

White House slams ‘trash reporting’ over claims ICE chief hospitalized for stress, yelled at by Trump admin

Breaking: Tiger Woods Involved in Rollover Crash in Florida

ICE arrests Latin Kings member after NYC sanctuary release despite assault charge on first responder

WATCH: Trump goes viral for illustrating how to cut government waste with his favorite White House pen

Fox News Campus Radicals Newsletter: Alleged fake diplomas, Black-only programs, illegal alien groping scandal

Rubio Accuses Zelenskyy of Telling a Significant Lie About US Security Guarantees: ‘He Knows That’s Not True’

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.”