50 N.Y. Trinitarios Gang Members Charged

News Release
Date: December 07, 2011
Erin McKenzie-Mulvey
Public Information Officer
212 337-2906

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Charges 50 Members and Associates of
Trinitarios Street Gang with Racketeering, Narcotics, and Firearms Offenses

Defendants Include Seven Leaders of Bronx-Based Gang

DEC 07 -- Manhattan, N.Y. —Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Wilbert L. Plummer, Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Raymond W. Kelly, the Commissioner of the Police

Department for the City of New York (NYPD), Joseph Anarumo Jr., the Special Agent-in- Charge of the New York Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), James T. Hayes, Jr., the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Brian Fischer, the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), announced charges today against 50 members and associates of the Bronx Trinitarios Gang (BTG) for racketeering, narcotics, and firearms offenses. The Indictment alleges that BTG operated as a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO), and charges 41 defendants with racketeering conspiracy, related to their participation in this criminal organization, which engaged in narcotics trafficking, murder and attempted murder.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “As alleged, for nearly eight years, the Trinitarios street gang terrorized a wide swath of the Bronx with their drug dealing and violence. Gangs like the Trinitarios are a cancer on New York’s neighborhoods – both in the physical harm they inflict and the atmosphere of despair they create. Today’s arrests again demonstrate this Office’s commitment to eradicating the scourge of gangs throughout the Southern District of New York and to giving back to residents the peaceful enjoyment of their communities. In the past two years, we have prosecuted over 400 alleged gang members and our efforts remain very much ongoing.â€