TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Paid Latin Kings Informant's Credibility Is Questioned

ADVERTISEMENT

By THOMAS W. KRAUSE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 15, 2008

TAMPA - Prosecutors tried to convince a judge Thursday that an informant slated to testify against several members of the Latin Kings street gang was an integral part of the gang and has specific knowledge of criminal activity.

Defense attorneys have asked the judge to throw out charges against the gang members, arguing that the informant, Luis "Danny" Agosto, cannot be trusted. Agosto is a convicted felon several times over who continued to break the law as authorities paid him $2,400 per month and set him up in a rent-free apartment, defense attorneys say.

On Aug. 20, 2006, Agosto called a meeting of the Latin Kings. Officers from six law enforcement agencies raided the meeting and charged 39 gang members with racketeering.

In October, defense attorney Lyann Goudie filed a 114-page court document questioning Agosto's credibility. Since November, Circuit Judge Daniel Sleet has held several days of hearings in which Agosto has testified about his criminal history. In all, Goudie questioned Agosto for 38 hours, Sleet said.

Goudie asked Agosto about stolen motorcycles, about arrests for driving with a suspended license and about an arrest for driving a car rigged to look like an undercover police car, complete with emergency lights. All the crimes occurred while he was accepting money from law enforcement and providing information about the Latin Kings.

Wednesday evening and all day Thursday, prosecutors got their turn to question Agosto.

Assistant State Attorney Christine Brown asked Agosto about the hierarchy of the Latin Kings gang. Agosto testified about the "Incas," or gang leaders, about initiation rituals and about how individual gang members had their own specialty crimes.

Prosecutors contend that it is not possible Agosto was making up information for law enforcement in an effort to keep a steady stream of money. The gang's structure is well documented by many recorded telephone calls between Agosto and gang leaders, prosecutors say.

Calls that were not gang related also lend to his credibility, prosecutors said.

In one call, Agosto is heard talking to the mother of his son. She sounds upset that he is providing information about the Latin Kings. Agosto tells her that his work with law enforcement has become his job and he needs to do it. He says that in the long run, it will make things better for him, for her and for their son.

Although Sleet hoped to conclude the hearing Thursday, the attorneys could not finish. The hearing is to reconvene this morning. It is unclear when Sleet will make his decision.

Reporter Thomas W. Krause can be reached at (813) 259-7698 or tkrause@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT