Iraq war veteran who became the second in command of Bethlehem's Latin Kings gang pleaded guilty

Iraq war veteran who became the second in command of Bethlehem's Latin Kings gang pleaded guilty to plotting revenge on gang associates who "snitched" to police.

From 2004 through 2008, Pedro "King P-Solo" Velasquez was involved in four separate attempts to kill or kidnap gang members and associates who leaders of the Bethlehem Sun Tribe of the Latin Kings considered enemies, Assistant U.S. Attorney John Gallagher said.

Velasquez pleaded guilty Monday to 12 counts including racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to kidnap and drugs and weapons charges before U.S. District Judge Joel H. Slomsky in Philadelphia. He was indicted last year with 11 other gang members and associates who were arrested in a July 21 sweep of the Lehigh Valley by the FBI, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and local law enforcement including the Bethlehem Police Department.

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