Three Bronx Gang Members Convicted In Manhattan Federal Court Of Racketeering Charges, Murder, Conspiracy To Murder, Attempted Murder, Narcotics, And Firearms Offenses

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that FELIX LOPEZ-CABRERA, 24, CARLOS LOPEZ, 26, and LUIS BELTRAN, 26, were convicted yesterday in Manhattan of various racketeering charges, murder, conspiracy to murder, attempted murder, narcotics conspiracy, and firearms offenses following a twelve-week jury trial before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer. The jury convicted LOPEZ-CABRERA, LOPEZ and BELTRAN of charges arising out of their involvement, from 2003 through 2012, in the criminal activities of the Bronx Trinitarios gang (the “BTG”) – a violent street gang that was involved in drug-trafficking and multiple acts of violence, including murder and attempted murder, in New York, New York, the Bronx, New York, and Yonkers, New York.

According to the Superseding Indictment and evidence admitted at trial:

The BTG is a criminal organization that operates primarily in the Bronx, New York. It started in the prison system in the late 1980’s and subsequently spread to the streets. FELIX LOPEZ-CABRERA was a member, and a leader, of the BTG who directed other members to carry out illegal and other activities as part of the racketeering conspiracy. As part of their membership and participation in that enterprise, LOPEZ-CABRERA and CARLOS LOPEZ murdered Raffy Tavares and Irving Cruz, both 19, in the vicinity of 81 East 181st Street, Bronx, New York, on May 23, 2010. LUIS BELTRAN and LOPEZ-CABRERA murdered Raymond Casul, 23, in the vicinity of 271 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, New York, on March 31, 2009. LOPEZ-CABRERA was also involved in the September 4, 2009, murder of David Avila-Gomez, 23, in the vicinity of 15 Mount Carmel Place, Yonkers, New York. CARLOS LOPEZ was also involved in the November 20, 2010, murder of Freddy Polanco, 19, in the vicinity of 75 West 190th Street, Bronx, New York. LOPEZ-CABRERA, LOPEZ, and BELTRAN also carried out multiple assaults and attempted murders of individuals believed to be members of rival gangs including the Latin Kings, Dominicans Don’t Play, and the Bloods. LOPEZ-CABRERA and LOPEZ also participated in a more than decade-long conspiracy to distribute kilograms of marijuana and crack cocaine in the Bronx. The evidence at trial also showed that LOPEZ-CABRERA, LOPEZ, BELTRAN, and other members of the BTG possessed, brandished, and discharged a number of firearms in connection with their drug trafficking and racketeering activities with the Trinitarios gang.

FELIX LOPEZ-CABRERA was convicted of one count of racketeering, one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of conspiracy to murder in aid of racketeering, four counts of murder in aid of racketeering, two counts of assault and attempted murder in aid of racketeering, one count of conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute 100 kilograms and more of marijuana, 28 grams and more of crack cocaine, quantities of cocaine and oxycodone, two counts of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence or a drug-trafficking crime, and four counts of discharging a firearm in connection with the murders of Raymond Casul, Raffy Taveras, Irving Cruz, and David Avila-Gomez. LOPEZ-CABRERA is scheduled to be sentenced on May 4, 2015, at 9:30 a.m., before Judge Engelmayer.

CARLOS LOPEZ was convicted of one count of racketeering, one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of conspiracy to murder in aid of racketeering, three counts of murder in aid of racketeering, one count of assault and attempted murder in aid of racketeering, one count of conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute 100 kilograms and more of marijuana, 28 grams and more of crack cocaine, quantities of cocaine and oxycodone, two counts of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence or a drug-trafficking crime, and three counts of discharging a firearm in connection with the murders of Raffy Taveras, Irving Cruz, and Freddy Polanco. LOPEZ is scheduled to be sentenced on May 5, 2015, at 9:30 a.m., before Judge Engelmayer.

LUIS BELTRAN was convicted of one count of racketeering conspiracy, one count of conspiracy to murder in aid of racketeering, one count of murder in aid of racketeering, and one count of discharging a firearm in connection with the murder of Raymond Casul. BELTRAN is scheduled to be sentenced on May 8, 2015, at 9:30 a.m., before Judge Engelmayer.

The chart below provides the counts of conviction and the penalties for each defendant. The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants would be determined by the judge.

Mr. Bharara praised the investigative work of the New York City Police Department’s Bronx Gang Squad, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Joint Firearms Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.

This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Ortiz, Rachel Maimin, and Micah Smith conducted the trial.