Showing posts with label gang activity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gang activity. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Two Ñetas Gang Members and a Gang Associate Plead Guilty in Connection with the Murders of Two 17-Year-Old Rival Gang Members

Earlier today, two members of the Ñetas street gang, Alvaro Cabral, also known as “Boobi,” and Jason Cabral, also known as “J-Live,” pleaded guilty to the 2004 murders of Anthony Marcano and Fabian Mestres. Stephanie DiCarlo-Cabral, an associate of the gang and at the time the girlfriend of Alvaro Cabral, pleaded guilty to robbery and using a firearm in connection with the robbery of Marcano and Mestres. Today’s pleas took place before United States District Judge Joanna Seybert. When sentenced, the defendants face life in prison.
The pleas were announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; George Venizelos, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and William J. Bratton, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD).
“These were brutal, senseless gang murders. The defendants stuffed the victims into the trunk of a car in the dog days of August and then drove them to their execution,” stated United States Attorney Lynch. “We hope the victims’ families can take some measure of solace in knowing that the individuals who are responsible for their sons’ murders have been brought to justice.” Ms. Lynch expressed her grateful appreciation to the Suffolk County Police Department, the Tampa Division of the FBI, and United States Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida, for their cooperation and assistance in the investigation.
The defendants targeted one of the victims, Anthony Marcano, because of his affiliation with a rival gang, the Latin Kings. On August 10, 2004, at the direction of Jason Cabral, the leader of gang, the defendants devised a plan to rob and kill 17-year-old Marcano. As part of the plan, the defendants lured Marcano to a house in Brentwood. Marcano arrived with 17-year-old Fabian Mestres, a fellow “Pee Wee” member of the Latin Kings street gang. Once inside the house, Marcano and Mestres were restrained with duct tape, and their drugs, money, and jewelry were stolen. The victims were stuffed into the trunk of a car and driven to a warehouse in Queens where Luis Benitez (Luis Benitez pleaded guilty to the murders of Marcano and Mestres on November 7, 2013), with the assistance of Alvaro Cabral, shot them with a shotgun. Mestres was shot once in the head, and Marcano was shot once in the head and once in the back of the neck. Marcano’s and Mestres’s bodies were found behind a warehouse in Queens the following day.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Boeckmann and Christopher C. Caffarone.
Defendants:
Alvaro Cabral
Age: 28
Apollo Beach, Florida
Jason Cabral
Age: 36
Riverview, Florida
Stephanie Dicarlo-Cabral
Age: 29
Riverview, Florida

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Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Brazil killing spree leaves 12 dead, sparks suspicion over police role

A five-hour killing rampage in Brazil's southeastern city of Campinas that left 12 people dead is being investigated amid claims it may have been sparked by the earlier death of a police officer.
The 12 victims were gunned down in several separate incidents on the outskirts of the city, in what Brazilian media said appeared to be execution-style killings.

Authorities say they are looking into all possibilities, including whether the killings were gang-related.
But they also say the timing and location of the shootings add weight to a theory that they were revenge killings carried out by police.

The slayings occurred between Sunday night and Monday morning, just hours after an off-duty military police officer, Arides Luiz dos Santos, was killed fighting off an attempted robbery at a gas station.
According to Brazilian media, in one of the cases, a car pulled up, its occupants told children to go inside and then opened fire.
Hundreds of angry residents took to the streets to protest the killings. They attacked buses, burning three of them.
Police have stepped up their presence in Campinas, located about 50 miles northwest of Sao Paulo, to prevent further violence.
The latest deadly incidents come as Brazil prepares to host the 2014 World Cup in June.
None of the venues for the soccer tournament is in Campinas. However, fans from around the world are expected to flock to nearby Sao Paulo, the country's financial and business hub.
Hooded men
Fernando Grella Vieira, the secretary of public safety for Sao Paulo, said Tuesday that the civil and military police "will not rest" until they have found those responsible for all 13 deaths in Campinas.
No possibility is being ruled out during the investigation, he said on a visit to the city. "These are intolerable crimes and I can guarantee that the police will not rest until we solve these deaths and arrest the perpetrators," he added.
Grella said it was too early to comment on suspicions raised by witnesses of the alleged involvement of military officers in 12 of the killings. But he stressed that he does not tolerate abuse or crimes committed by state agents.
Nine of the victims died in two separate incidents, according to the state-run Agencia Brasil. Hooded men reportedly used pistols to shoot the victims, aged between 17 and 30, in the head.
The remaining three were killed in separate attacks, the news agency said.
At least six of the victims had a criminal background, with offenses including drug trafficking, murder and auto theft, the news agency cited Licurgo Costa, director of the Judiciary Police department, as saying.
Victims 'hit in the head, chest or abdomen'
The chief of the Civil Police's homicide division, Devanir Dutra, told CNN affiliate TV Globo that the police will take accounts from at least 20 witnesses beginning Wednesday. "Let's start with the relatives and friends of the victims," he said.
According to Dutra, two people were injured and remain hospitalized in Campinas. They may be summoned by the police as witnesses.
Dutra said that the number of shots fired signaled executions. "They (the victims) were hit in the head, chest or abdomen," he said.
One hypothesis being examined by the Civil Police is rivalry between drug gangs, he said.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Member of 10th Street Gang Sentenced on Drug Charges

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Ben Medina, 25, of Buffalo, New York, who was convicted of conspiracy to possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, cocaine, and marijuana, was sentenced to 46 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Tripi, who handled the case, stated that the defendant was a member of the 10th Street Gang. Between 2004 and July 2010, Medina, along with other members and associates of the 10th Street Gang, distributed illegal narcotics, including crack cocaine, cocaine, and marijuana, on the West Side of Buffalo.
To date, 26 members and associates of the 10th Street Gang have been convicted in connection with the investigation, which began in 2009.
The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of investigators of the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Michael Cerretto; the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commission Daniel Derenda; and special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian P. Boetig.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Newburgh Latin Kings Leader Jose Lagos Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Three Murders

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JOSE LAGOS, a leader of the Latin Kings gang in Newburgh, New York (the “Newburgh Latin Kings”), was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Cathy Seibel in White Plains federal court to 40 years in prison. LAGOS’ criminal conduct, for which he was sentenced, included three murders, shootings, brandishing firearms, assaults, drug distribution, and other acts of racketeering. LAGOS, 23, is one of 35 members and associates of the gang who were charged in the case, all of whom have been convicted, 26 of whom have been sentenced. The remaining top two leaders of the gang, Wilson Pagan and Christian Sanchez, were convicted at trial of murder, racketeering, firearms, and narcotics offenses, and each faces a mandatory life sentence.
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated: “With this sentencing, and the pending sentencing of Lagos’s two key accomplices, the leadership of the gang that deprived the citizens of Newburgh of their well-being has been decapitated. This result was only accomplished by the unflagging efforts of the federal, state, and local law enforcement personnel and the prosecution team. Today, Newburgh is a safer place but we are not relenting in our efforts to lift the shadow that gangs cast over its streets.”
According to the indictment to which LAGOS pled guilty, statements made during the plea and sentencing proceedings, other court documents, and evidence presented during related trials:
On May 6, 2008, LAGOS, then a leader of the Newburgh Latin Kings, ordered two others to shoot a member of a rival gang, the Bloods. The subordinates followed LAGOS’s orders, but mistakenly shot and killed Jeffrey Zachary, a 15-year-old boy, who had nothing to do with the gang dispute.
On March 11, 2010, LAGOS, then still a leader of the Newburgh Latin Kings, ordered, along with others, two others to shoot a member of the Bloods. The subordinates followed LAGOS’ and the other leaders’ orders, but one of the subordinates, Jerome Scarlett, was instead mistakenly shot and killed.
On March 12, 2010, LAGOS, along with other leaders of the Newburgh Latin Kings, ordered the killing of John Maldonado, whom they suspected had killed Scarlett. LAGOS helped to obtain a gun while other members of the gang plotted the murder. Another member of the gang shot Maldonado, unsuspecting, in the back, killing him.
LAGOS carried out the murders as part of his participation in the criminal affairs of the Newburgh Latin Kings. Among the gang’s criminal objectives was selling drugs, including by controlling corners in the city of Newburgh where they regularly met with drug customers to sell crack, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana. Gang members, and leaders such as LAGOS, conspired together to protect their drug turf, and to attempt to expand the gang’s drug turf, including by using violence to kill, hurt, or intimidate the gang’s rivals or other enemies of the gang.
***
Mr. Bharara thanked the Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force for their work on the Latin Kings investigation. The Task Force is led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and combines the resources of dozens of law enforcement officers from federal, state, and local agencies and departments, including agents and officers of the FBI; the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the City of Newburgh Police Department; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; the Middletown Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office; and the New York State Police.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Allee, Abigail S. Kurland and Nicholas McQuaid are in charge of the prosecution.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Nine Trey Gangster Leader Sentenced to 30 Years

RICHMOND, VA—Quincy L. Burrell, 36, of Richmond, Virginia, was sentenced today to 360 months’ in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, on charges of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jeffrey C. Mazanec, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Richmond Field Office; Ray J. Tarasovic, Chief of Police for Richmond Police Department; Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Superintendent, Virginia State Police; and Karl C. Colder, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)’s Washington Division, made the announcement after the sentence was imposed today by United States District Judge James R. Spencer.
Burrell was charged in a criminal indictment with conspiracy to distribute, and possess with the intent to distribute, 280 grams or more of cocaine base; and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
In the statement of facts filed at the time of his plea hearing in June, Burrell admitted to having distributed between 2.8 and 8.4 kilograms of “crack” cocaine into the Richmond, Virginia metropolitan area in furtherance of the conspiracy.
Burrell also admitted in the statement of facts that he is a leader of the NTG, holding the rank of “High Stain.” NTG a set of the United Blood Nation (UBN). NTG members are organized into “line-ups.” There were multiple active line-ups in Virginia and elsewhere under Burrell’s control. The High Stain of each line-up reports to two Godfathers, both of whom are in New York. Burrell admitted that nearly every member of the NTG line-up in Virginia was involved in the distribution of narcotics at the direction of or for the benefit of the gang. In addition, he stated that distribution of narcotics was routinely discussed at NTG meetings, which also included assigning discipline to NTG members who have improperly managed drug proceeds. Discipline may involve a loss of rank or a 31-second beating.
Sande Chhim, Burrell’s girlfriend at the time of their arrest and a co-defendant in the drug trafficking conspiracy, was sentenced to 70 months’ in prison on September 9, 2013, for her role in the conspiracy. Although Chhim was not a member of the NTG, she was an active participant in the conspiracy with Burrell from 2011 until their arrest in March 2013. Her involvement included providing Burrell with a place to cook cocaine hydrochloride into “crack” cocaine, driving Burrell to meetings with his suppliers and sub-dealers, pooling her money with Burrell’s to purchase narcotics, wiring drug proceeds to NTG leadership out of state, and serving as a nominee by placing vehicles and apartments in her name for Burrell. She facilitated the concealment of firearms and a vehicle that had been involved in criminal activity for the benefit of the gang.
This case was initiated and investigated by the FBI as part of an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation called Full Blooded Ink. Assistant United States Attorney Angela Mastandrea-Miller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Hells Angels Member Diamond Dan Bifield Pleads Guilty to Federal Racketeering Conspiracy

COLUMBIA, SC—United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated that Dan Bifield, a/k/a Diamond Dan, of the Hells Angels’ Rock Hell City Nomad Chapter in South Carolina, pleaded guilty to a racketeering conspiracy (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, also known as RICO Act-18 U.S.C. §1962). He faces up to 20 years in prison as a result of his RICO plea and will be sentenced in March 2013 by United States District Court Judge Cameron McGowan Currie.
Facts detailed for the court showed that Bifield agreed with co-conspirators to participate in an criminal enterprise. The enterprise’s participants, who were associated through the Rock Hell City Nomad Chapter, engaged in a pattern of racketeering activity across the state from Rock Hill to Lexington, South Carolina. Among other offenses, the group engaged in narcotics trafficking and money laundering. As part of this enterprise, Bifield received kickbacks in return for illegal activity conducted by other members of the criminal enterprise.
This guilty plea arises from a superseding indictment charging 20 members and associates of the Hells Angels with racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, robbery, arson, and firearms trafficking. The indictment resulted from a two-year interagency investigation by the South Carolina Hells Angels Task Force (SCHATF), which includes agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Lexington County Sheriff’s Department; Lexington Police Department; Rock Hill Police Department; York County Sheriff’s Office; and the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jay N. Richardson and James H. May.

Friday, December 28, 2012

Grand Island Man Sentenced to 70 Months' Imprisonment for Selling a Rifle to a Felon

United States Attorney Deborah R. Gilg announced that Luis Cruz, 32 years old, from Grand Island, Nebraska, was sentenced on Wednesday, November 14, 2012, to a term of 70 months’ imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison sentence, and a $100 special assessment by the Honorable U.S. District Court Senior Judge Richard Kopf. Cruz pled guilty to transferring a firearm to someone he had reason to believe was a convicted felon on July 13, 2012.
Cruz was among several people arrested in the Grand Island area in November of 2010 as the result of an investigation into criminal street gang activity. This case was investigated by the Central Nebraska Drug and Safe Streets Task Force, an organization comprised of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security, Hall County Sheriff’s Department, Grand Island Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Adams County Sheriff’s Department, Hastings Police Department, and the Kearney Police Department.