Puerto Rican Gang Members Face Six Murder Counts in NYC

New York, NY – Eight members and associates of the notorious La Organizacion de Narcotraficantes Unidos (La ONU) have been charged in Manhattan federal court with six murders and multiple racketeering and drug trafficking offenses. The indictment unsealed today names Joon H. Kim, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, as well as several high-ranking law enforcement officials from various agencies.

Five of the defendants are currently in custody, while three others, including OSCAR VALDES-GARCIA, a/k/a “Pony,” WILLIAM VASQUEZ-BAEZ, and RALPH LABOY, will appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Silvia Carreno-Coll today in the District of Puerto Rico.

Among the charges, VALDES-GARCIA and LABOY are accused of the 2007 murder of Anthony Castro-Carrillo, an alleged crime committed while VASQUEZ-BAEZ was an active member of the Puerto Rico Police Department. The victims of the other murders charged include Crystal Martinez-Ramirez, Ken Gonzalez-Rodriguez, Jean Adorno-Caballero, Israel Crespo-Cotto, and Carlos Barbosa.

Joon H. Kim emphasized the severity of the crimes and the collaboration between federal and local law enforcement agencies in bringing these alleged criminals to justice: “Members and associates of La ONU allegedly committed six ruthless murders to further a drug trade that funneled massive quantities of cocaine from Puerto Rico to New York.”

Philip R. Bartlett, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, highlighted the impact of the criminal enterprise: “This criminal enterprise stopped at nothing to move drugs from Puerto Rico to the Bronx, and they ‘got rid’ of their perceived obstacles. Fortunately, members of this criminal enterprise underestimated the power of interagency cooperation.”

Adolphus P. Wright, DEA Special Agent in Charge, added: “Through this collaborative effort with our law enforcement partners, drug traffickers committing not only drug violations but also other serious crimes will be brought to justice for their alleged heinous crimes against the community and the misuse of the U.S. Mail.”

RELATED: 26 Smuggled Cocaine at LMMIA: Puerto Rican Ring Busted