Alleged Latin Kings member stuns court

northjersey.com ^ | November 16, 2007 | JASON TSAI

[Coleus]

Juan Rosario is surrounded by officers in this July 2006 picture.

"I'll put a bomb in your car," witnesses said a reputed Latin Kings member told an assistant prosecutor in open court on Thursday.  Those in the Hackensack courtroom for a routine hearing said they weren't sure who reputed capo Juan Rosario of Passaic was talking to at first, but then he made it clear -- pointing at Assistant Bergen County Prosecutor Catherine Fantuzzi. "Now he's got another charge of terroristic threats on him," said her boss, Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli.

Rosario, 47, known as "King Black Rose," wasn't finished: He dared authorities to give him the death penalty, those in the courtroom said. The appearance was scheduled to discuss outstanding issues in Rosario's upcoming trial for the shooting death of a Hasbrouck Heights teenager in a Lodi parking lot two years ago.

Authorities said Rosario participated in a scheme to kidnap 18-year-old Ralph Pinto and a friend in retaliation for beating and robbing a ranking Latin King chief a day earlier. But Pinto fought back and was shot and killed. Rosario then ordered the killing of a witness, who survived a brutal attack, authorities allege. Last week, Latin Kings enforcer Juan "Johnny Suarez" Veras admitted shooting Pinto. He agreed to a 30-year prison sentence in exchange for pleading guilty to murder and other charges. Rosario is one of more than a dozen defendants still awaiting trial in connection with the killing. Rather than let his attorney handle the matter, he launched into a tirade Thursday before Superior Court Judge Patrick J. Roma, repeatedly insisting "there's just no justice," witnesses said. "Get it over with," he said. "Send me to prison. Give me the death penalty."

Rosario's attorney, Donald B. Liberman, complained that prosecutors hadn't offered his client a plea deal. Fantuzzi responded that Rosario has said he didn't want one. At that point, Rosario reportedly said: "Stupid. I'll put a bomb in your car." "Judge Roma indicated that he'd heard it as well," Molinelli said later, "and the [Bergen County] Sheriff's Department took very good control right after that."  Fantuzzi declined comment. Liberman didn't return calls for comment.    Molinelli said his assistant prosecutor will be protected. "In the days and weeks to come, our office will work with the sheriff to ensure Fantuzzi's safety," he said.

Sheriff's spokesman Ben Feldman said security was stepped up Thursday and that nothing suspicious was found in the courthouse. Meanwhile, Rosario, who had been held in the Essex County Jail, was relocated to another facility as a safety precaution, authorities said.  As he was being ushered out, authorities said, Rosario shouted "ADR," understood to be a Latin Kings term that, translated, means "Love the Crown."

[Vaquero]

there was a day when a rope and a tall tree would have solved all our problems.

Now we let ourselves be held hostage by the scum of the earth....and the left who gives them free rein.

[BuffaloJack]

If ever there was a justification for the death penalty this guy is it.

[bajabaja]

Any knowledge about his immigration status?

[ladyjane]

Why don’t we send guys like this to Bagdad and drop him off on some street corner?

[reagan_fanatic]

I would have no reservation whatsoever about someone taking this scum out back and putting a bullet in his brain.

[Gay State Conservative]

“Shot while escaping” sounds like a good solution in this case.

[Jeff Chandler]

“He fell down.”

[Piedra79]

“Amor del Rey” doesn’t mean love of the crown it means “King’s Love” or Love of the king, i.e. the Latin Kings, the organization. Considering the large number of Puerto Ricans in the organization, he’s likely legal.

[Uriah_lost]

....a lot...

[metmom]

The whole gang needs the death penalty. I’ve no doubt that at some time or other each of them has done something to deserve it.

As far as his threat goes, yeah he may be locked up, but I’d lay money on the fact that word gets out and one of his buddies tries, or does it.

[LukeL]

I prefer accidentally leaving him in an exercise yard with some crips or bloods.

[billmor]

As far as his threat goes, yeah he may be locked up, but I’d lay money on the fact that word gets out and one of his buddies tries, or does it.Assistant Bergen County Prosecutor Fantuzzi may be in real trouble here..The County should get her another car-unmarked and 24 hr a day police escort and have her keep switching cars..

As for Rosario—break the bum..5 Years in ‘the hole’ and he wont know if he is a latin king or a petunia...throw them all in jail and throw the keys away...

[Lancey Howard]

I prefer accidentally leaving him in an exercise yard with some crips or bloods.

New Jersey has a history of getting rid of cop killers this way. Check this out:

Death Row Inmate Said to Beat and Kick Another to Death in New Jersey Prison

[quadrant]

I don’t think this criminal need worry about the death penalty: NJ is getting ready to abolish capital punishment.

[Kozak]

FYI, the “Honorable” Luis Gutierrez (D Il ) is a former Latin Kings member. Scary huh?

[LukeL]

Here in Wisconsin a guard left Jeffrey Dahmer with a known mentally unstable black supremacist alone on bathroom detail. Dhamer got his skull crushed in and by some reports a plunger or mop handle was shoved up his backside.

[Jaysun]

Why don’t we send guys like this to Bagdad and drop him off on some street corner?

Strap a bomb to him first and put a sign around his neck that says, "Allah Sucks!". When the terrorist gather around he can go BOOM! At least then he'd be useful.

[Jeff Chandler]

...into an oncoming car.

[Thumper1960]

Vivisect the Latin Trash.

Make him actually beg to be swiftly killed.....then, ignore his pleas.

Heads on pikes at the city gates were an effective deterrent in the Old Country.