BUFFALO, N.Y. — In a stunning turn of events, Uda Hidalgo, 31, of Buffalo, has pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy in a plea agreement that could land him life in prison. The defendant, once a member of the notorious Cheko’s Crew/7th Street Gang, is charged with participating in the brutal murder of a rival gang associate. According to U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr., Hidalgo admitted to providing one of the firearms used in the execution-style killing on August 11, 2009.
Hildalgo’s role in this deadly confrontation was not limited to aiding and abetting; he also sold illegal narcotics on Buffalo’s West Side throughout his membership with the gang from 2000 to 2012. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Tripi highlighted the defendant’s involvement in the ongoing rivalry between the Cheko’s Crew/7th Street Gang and the 10th Street Gang.
The guilty plea is the result of a comprehensive investigation led by Special Agents of the FBI, New York State Police, Buffalo Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Major Michael Cerretto, Commissioner Daniel Derenda, and Special Agent in Charge James S. Higgins directed their respective agencies to bring justice to the victims and disrupt the gang’s activities.
Uda Hidalgo will face sentencing on May 26, 2015, at 12:30 p.m., before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The severity of his charges suggests a lengthy sentence that will serve as a stark reminder to other gang members of the consequences of their actions.
For more information, contact Barbara Burns at (716) 843-5817 or via fax at (716) 551-3051.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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