10th Street Gang Member Sentenced for Racketeering

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Efrain Barreto, 35, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) Conspiracy, was sentenced to 97 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Tripi, who handled the case, stated that between 2000 and 2010, Barreto was a member of the 10th Street Gang, a criminal enterprise engaged in racketeering activity. As a part of his involvement in the 10th Street Gang, the defendant, along with other members and associates of the gang, sold cocaine and other controlled substances on the West Side of Buffalo. Barreto supplied cocaine to younger members of the gang, and provided firearms to fellow 10th Street Gang members who used the firearms to commit shootings and to defend drug turf within the 10th Street Gang's territory. The defendant also conspired with other 10th Street Gang members to distribute over 15 kilograms of cocaine as a part of the affairs of the 10th Street Gang.  

Barreto is among 44 10th Street Gang members and associates convicted in this case.

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.