By Alicia Cruz
The Black Urban Times
A Hackensack jury took less than four hours to convict former Latin Kings enforcer, Veanzeil "King Pun" Roberts of attempted murder, conspiracy and weapons charges stemming from the February 2005 stabbing of Monica Penalba.
Prosecutors said Roberts, 26, enlisted the help of, then 18 year-old Penalba to kidnap Ralph Pinto of Hasbrouck Heights and a friend for beating and robbing Jose "King June" Vega, a drug dealer and one of the top bosses within the Latin Kings a day earlier.
Penalba admitted in open court that she agreed to help Roberts, who set up a fake drug deal in order to lure Pinto and his friend out so they could be kidnapped and beaten for the robbery and beating of Vega.
Penalba said when Pinto arrived at the designated location, she blocked his truck in so he could not leave. The plan went array after Pinto put up a fight and ended up being shot five times with a .38-caliber revolver pistol.
Sometime after the shooting, one the Latin King’s top bosses, Juan “Black Rose” Rosario ordered Roberts and others to kill Penalba fearing she might talk to police about Pinto's murder.
Penalba testified that as she was cleaning the blood of another gang member from her car, Roberts and two gang members began stabbing her more than 32 times.
She played dead and as they drove off with her in the car, she jumped from the vehicle to get away, but Roberts made a U-turn and ran her over twice with her own car. Somehow, the young woman survived the vicious attack, but lost her left eye and partial use of her left arm.
Penalba pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted kidnapping in relation to the death of Pinto and received seven years in prison. She began serving her prison term last year after asking a judge to revoke her bail and send her to jail earlier than scheduled.
Penalba was one of 12 people convicted in Pinto's death.
Vega and Rosario, members of the Latin Kings hierarchy, were convicted earlier this year and sentenced to 40 and 20 years, respectively.
Every one of the other gang members who took part in the attack on Penalba with Roberts testified against him during his trial.
Roberts was order held without bail until his May 14 sentencing. At that time, the judge could send him to prison for 20 years.
The Black Urban Times
A Hackensack jury took less than four hours to convict former Latin Kings enforcer, Veanzeil "King Pun" Roberts of attempted murder, conspiracy and weapons charges stemming from the February 2005 stabbing of Monica Penalba.
Prosecutors said Roberts, 26, enlisted the help of, then 18 year-old Penalba to kidnap Ralph Pinto of Hasbrouck Heights and a friend for beating and robbing Jose "King June" Vega, a drug dealer and one of the top bosses within the Latin Kings a day earlier.
Penalba admitted in open court that she agreed to help Roberts, who set up a fake drug deal in order to lure Pinto and his friend out so they could be kidnapped and beaten for the robbery and beating of Vega.
Penalba said when Pinto arrived at the designated location, she blocked his truck in so he could not leave. The plan went array after Pinto put up a fight and ended up being shot five times with a .38-caliber revolver pistol.
Sometime after the shooting, one the Latin King’s top bosses, Juan “Black Rose” Rosario ordered Roberts and others to kill Penalba fearing she might talk to police about Pinto's murder.
Penalba testified that as she was cleaning the blood of another gang member from her car, Roberts and two gang members began stabbing her more than 32 times.
She played dead and as they drove off with her in the car, she jumped from the vehicle to get away, but Roberts made a U-turn and ran her over twice with her own car. Somehow, the young woman survived the vicious attack, but lost her left eye and partial use of her left arm.
Penalba pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted kidnapping in relation to the death of Pinto and received seven years in prison. She began serving her prison term last year after asking a judge to revoke her bail and send her to jail earlier than scheduled.
Penalba was one of 12 people convicted in Pinto's death.
Vega and Rosario, members of the Latin Kings hierarchy, were convicted earlier this year and sentenced to 40 and 20 years, respectively.
Every one of the other gang members who took part in the attack on Penalba with Roberts testified against him during his trial.
Roberts was order held without bail until his May 14 sentencing. At that time, the judge could send him to prison for 20 years.
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