Jose Douglass Castellano, Racketeering Conspiracy, New York 2017

A brutal gang leader has been brought to justice, but the violence and bloodshed he was responsible for will forever leave its mark on the lives of innocent victims and their families.

Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Jose Douglass Castellano, also known as “Chino,” a high-ranking member of the 18th Street gang, was sentenced by United States District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall to more than 35 years’ imprisonment for racketeering conspiracy in connection with his participation in the October 25, 2017 murder of 20-year-old Jonathan Figueroa in Saugerties, New York.

Castellano is the third and final gang leader to be sentenced under a seventh superseding indictment in connection with a sprawling racketeering conspiracy that also involved the September 12, 2016 murder of 15-year-old Joshua Guzman in Hempstead, New York; the February 2, 2018 murder of 20-year-old Oscar Antonio Blanco Hernandez in Queens; and multiple shootings and other gang activity.

Junior Zelaya Canales, also known as “Terco,” a Queens-based regional gang leader, and Walter Fernando Alfaro Pineda, also known as “Clever,” a Texas-based national gang leader, were each sentenced to 40 years’ imprisonment in February and March 2026, respectively.

The sentencing of Castellano marks the culmination of a lengthy and complex investigation into the 18th Street gang, which was led by the United States Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City Police Department.

The case against Castellano and his co-defendants was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alixandra E. Smith and Christopher D. Candelaria of the Eastern District of New York.

Castellano’s sentencing comes as a welcome relief to the families of the victims, who have suffered for far too long at the hands of this ruthless gang leader and his cohorts.

In addition to Castellano, several of his co-defendants have also been sentenced for their roles in the racketeering conspiracy. These include Yanki Misael Cruz Mateo, also known as “Doggy” and “Wino,” Israel Mendiola Flores, also known as “Chapito,” Yoni Alexander Sierra, also known as “Arc Angel” and “Wasson,” Jose Jimenez Chacon, also known as “Little One,” Carolina Cruz, also known as “La Fiera,” and Eric Chavez, also known as “Lunatico.”

The case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of gang violence and the importance of holding those responsible accountable for their actions.

Related Criminal Cases in Organized Crime

• Jose Douglass Castellano, Racketeering Conspiracy, Brooklyn NY 2026
• Jose Douglass Castellano, Racketeering Conspiracy, Brooklyn NY 2026
• Matthew Burke, Tabatha Hodges, Kidnapping, Birmingham AL, 2020

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