Members Of Violent Bronx Gang Charged In Manhattan Federal Court With Racketeering, Narcotics, And Firearms Offenses

Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James P. O’Neill, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing today of an Indictment charging 11 members and associates of the 2200 Morris Avenue Crew with various racketeering, firearms, and narcotics offenses, and charging an additional three defendants with narcotics and firearms offenses.  ADONIS RAMIREZ, a/k/a “Frenchie,” is also charged with a September 28, 2017, attack on Charles DelToro that resulted in DelToro’s death on October 4, 2017.

Eight of the defendants, ADONIS RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a “Crazy,” a/k/a “Locotron,” JONATHAN ESPINAL, a/k/a “Twin,” DERIAN DEL CARMEN, a/k/a “Mel,” ELVIN PEREZ, a/k/a “Choco,” YISANDER RAMIREZ, a/k/a “Bean,” MARIO DELOSSANTOS, and DANIEL GONZALEZ were taken into custody last night and this morning.  They will be presented and arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara C. Moses later today.  Five of the defendants, ADONIS RAMIREZ, a/k/a “Frenchie,” DAVID GARCIA, a/k/a “Clippa,” BRANDON ESTEVEZ, a/k/a “Boppy,” JONATHAN MALDONADO, a/k/a “Tego,” and LOUIS RIVERA are currently incarcerated in state custody on other charges, and will be presented at a later date.  JEFFREY ESTEVEZ, a/k/a “J,” was already in federal custody, having been previously charged in federal court with narcotics trafficking.  JOSUE SANCHEZ, a/k/a “V,” remains at large.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Deborah A. Batts.  

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “As alleged, members of the 2200 Morris Avenue Crew wreaked havoc in the Bronx, engaging in brazen acts of violence, including murder and multiple attempted murders, as well as narcotics trafficking.  Thanks to the extraordinary work of the NYPD, the defendants will now face justice in federal court.”

As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court[1]:

The 2200 Morris Avenue Crew was a criminal enterprise involved in committing numerous acts of violence, including shootings, robberies, and assaults in the Bronx.  Members and associates of the 2200 Morris Avenue Crew engaged in violence to retaliate against rival gangs, to promote the standing and reputation of their gang, and to protect the gang’s narcotics business.  Members and associates of the 2200 Morris Avenue Crew enriched themselves by selling drugs, such as heroin, crack cocaine, cocaine, and marijuana.  

The Indictment charges BRANDON ESTEVEZ, ADONIS RAMIREZ, GARCIA, RODRIGUEZ, ESPINAL, DEL CARMEN, JEFFREY ESTEVEZ, MALDONADO, PEREZ, YISANDER RAMIREZ, and SANCHEZ with participating in a racketeering conspiracy.  Count Two of the Indictment charges ADONIS RAMIREZ with the murder in aid of racketeering of Charles DelToro.  Counts Three and Four charge BRANDON ESTEVEZ, MALDONADO, and PEREZ with participating in an attempted murder in aid of racketeering for a shooting of a rival gang member on February 11, 2018, and a related firearms offense.  Counts Five and Six charge JEFFREY ESTEVEZ with participating in an attempted murder in aid of racketeering for a shooting on May 25, 2018, and a related firearms offense.  Count Seven charges DEL CARMEN, MALDONADO, and RODRIGUEZ with attempted murder in aid of racketeering for a stabbing that occurred on June 19, 2018.  Count Eight charges ESPINAL with attempted murder in aid of racketeering.  Counts Nine and Ten charge SANCHEZ, YISANDER RAMIREZ, GARCIA, and DEL CARMEN with attempted murder in aid of racketeering for a shooting that occurred on March 24, 2019, and a related firearms offense.  Count Eleven charges all of the defendants with a narcotics trafficking conspiracy.  Count Twelve charges all of the defendants with possessing and using firearms in furtherance of the narcotics trafficking conspiracy charged in Count Eleven. 

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Charts containing the names, ages, charges, and maximum penalties for the defendants are set forth below.  The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD.  He also thanked the Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their assistance in the investigation. 

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

The charges contained in the Indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.