Operator Of Tow Truck And Auto Repair Company Charged With Racketeering Conspiracy And Murder

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James E. Dennehy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging CHRISTIAN LUGO, a/k/a “Coco,” with racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering, and related firearms charges.  These charges relate to LUGO’s leadership role in a racketeering conspiracy that used fraud and violent intimidation to run a tow truck and auto repair shop known as Certified Auto.  On February 7, 2022, LUGO ordered a co-conspirator who worked for him at Certified Auto to shoot at members of a rival tow truck company, which resulted in the death of Gloria Ortiz.  LUGO was arrested this morning and will be presented today in Manhattan federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gary Stein.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Dale E. Ho.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Christian Lugo corrupted a tow truck and auto repair business in the Bronx and ran that enterprise by engaging in rampant fraud and serious acts of violence.  Lugo’s alleged rivalry with other tow truck companies culminated in him allegedly ordering another member of his enterprise to shoot at rivals, which resulted in the murder of Gloria Ortiz.  We hope that these charges bring some measure of comfort to Ms. Ortiz’s family and make clear that this Office and our law enforcement partners are dedicated to prosecuting those who allegedly commit senseless violence in the name of increasing their power in a criminal enterprise.” 

FBI Assistant Director in Charge James E. Dennehy said: “Christian Lugo allegedly engaged in a racketeering conspiracy using violence as part of the operation of a Bronx-based tow truck and auto repair business.  As alleged, his callous actions directly led to the 2022 murder of Gloria Ortiz as well as additional crimes and fraud.  FBI New York will not sit idly by and allow violent crime – let alone murder – to be used as a means to operate a business.”

As alleged in the Indictment:^[1]

LUGO, along with others, corrupted the operations and activities of Certified Auto, which was a company that provided towing and auto repair services to vehicles damaged in car accidents.  LUGO and his co-conspirators used Certified Auto to commit wire, mail, and insurance fraud and to assert control over the towing and auto repair industry in their territory in the Bronx, New York, using violence and threats of violence.

On February 7, 2022, LUGO ordered a co-conspirator who worked for him at Certified Auto to shoot at members of a rival tow truck company, which the co-conspirator did.  The resulting gunfire caused the death of Gloria Ortiz and non-fatal injuries to two other people outside of the Certified Auto shop.

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LUGO, 37, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum term of life in prison; murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a mandatory minimum term of life in prison or death; conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum term of 10 years in prison; attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison; and two firearms offenses, each of which carries a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison, which must run consecutive to any other term of imprisonment.

The mandatory minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the work of Special Agents from the FBI New York Safe Streets Task Force and the New York City Police Department.  Mr. Williams also thanked Bronx County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance in the investigation.  He added that the investigation is ongoing.

This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent & Organized Crime Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Herman, Andrew Jones, and Ni Qian are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.