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Press Release

Manhattan Man Pleads Guilty To 2018 Murder Of 17-Year-Old

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York

Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that GARY TURNER pled guilty this afternoon in Manhattan federal court to the murder of Samuel Ozuna, 17, outside the George Washington Carver Houses in New York, New York on April 24, 2018.  United States District Judge Jesse M. Furman presided over the defendant’s guilty plea today.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “Last April, Gary Turner murdered 17-year-old Samuel Ozuna.  Today, Turner admitted in open court to committing that terrible act of violence.  We will continue our daily work with the NYPD to keep the streets safe and vigorously to investigate and prosecute those who bring murder and mayhem to our communities.”

As alleged in the Indictment and statements made in open court:

On April 24, 2018, GARY TURNER shot and killed Samuel Ozuna in the vicinity of 60 East 104th Street in Manhattan.  TURNER committed this killing in order to maintain his position in a violent gang that was operating in the residential neighborhood surrounding the George Washington Carver Houses. 

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TURNER, 24, of Manhattan, pled guilty to using a firearm to commit murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum sentence of death or life in prison, and a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison.  The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department.

This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit.  Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Schorr and Jacob Warren are in charge of the prosecution.

Updated February 15, 2019

Press Release Number: 19-044