7th Street Gang Member Sentenced On Rico Conspiracy

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051
 
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Sammy Ortiz, 28, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of RICO Conspiracy, was sentenced to 57 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Tripi, who is handling the case, stated that as a member of the 7th Street Gang, the defendant sold cocaine, heroin and marijuana. In addition, Ortiz possessed and stored firearms at his 7th Street residence on behalf of other gang members.

A total of 18 defendants were charged in the prosecution of the 7th Street gang. All 18 defendants have now been convicted. 

The 7th Street Gang was responsible for narcotics trafficking, numerous shootings and multiple murders in the 7th Street area of the West Side of Buffalo between 2000 and 2012. 

Today’s sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Steven Nigrelli, the Buffalo Police Department under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Delano A. Reid, New York Field Division.