ROCHESTER, N.Y.—In a grim judicial sentence, Damion Colabatistto, 40, of Rochester, NY, faced life in prison plus five years for his role in a drug conspiracy that culminated in the murder of Meosha Harmon. The verdict was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr., as Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. imposed the sentence.
Colabatistto and his accomplice, Angelo Ocasio, were found guilty after a jury trial of murder, conspiracy to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin, and the use of firearms in furtherance of a drug conspiracy. The incident occurred on July 26, 2009, when Harmon was mistakenly identified as a rival drug dealer and killed.
Colabatistto’s conviction also tied him to the murder of Jose Troche outside his residence in January 2010, using one of the same firearms. Troche was part of the drug distribution conspiracy led by James Kendrick and Pablo ‘Paul’ Plaza, who were later sentenced to life in prison as well.
The investigation, which began in 2010, has solved four murders and resulted in the conviction of eleven co-conspirators, including Kendrick and Plaza. The drug ring was known for its extreme violence, involving beatings, shootings, and murders to protect their operations and retaliate against threats.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Everardo A. Rodriguez and Melissa M. Marangola led the prosecution, which relied on evidence that included the use of a single firearm in multiple violent acts. The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ashan Ben.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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