T-Bird & Richie Get 185, 220 Months for ’02 Murder-for-Hire

Brooklyn, NY – TERRIS OLIVER, 42, a/k/a ‘T-Bird,’ and RICARDO AYALA, 43, a/k/a ‘Richie,’ have been sentenced to 185 and 220 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in the 2002 murder of 19-year-old Atari Felton.

According to the Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams announced the sentencing, stating that no matter how much time passes, “this Office will prosecute, and seek significant sentences for, any drug dealers and gang members who shoot and kill another person.”

Felton’s murder occurred on March 27, 2002, after a feud broke out between OLIVER’s and AYALA’s drug crew and Felton’s own business. The group had planned to merge operations but ultimately shot Felton after he attempted to shoot at them.

Following the murder, OLIVER and AYALA were arrested and served time on state charges of gun possession and continued drug distribution. They previously pled guilty to conspiring to distribute crack cocaine, heroin, and marijuana and admitted to participating in Felton’s murder.

In addition to their prison terms, OLIVER and AYALA were sentenced to three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Williams praised the work of Special Agents from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the New York City Police Department’s Cold Case Squad for their outstanding efforts in solving the case.

The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Balsamello, Andrew K. Chan, and Mathew Andrews leading the prosecution. The New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Intelligence Analysts also provided support and assistance in the matter.