Leader Of Sunset Trinitarios Gang Pleads Guilty To Racketeering
Ediberto Santana, a/k/a 'Flaco Veneno,' pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy involving murder for leading the Sunset Trinitarios gang, which committed multiple killings over nearly a decade, including the 2011 stabbing of Dennis Marquez and the 2013 shootings of Michael Beltre and Rafael Alam, and now faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Ediberto Santana, a/k/a 'Flaco Veneno,' pled guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy with murder as a special sentencing factor for his leadership of the Sunset Trinitarios gang. Under his direction, the gang carried out a near-constant string of violent crimes over nearly a decade, including the 2011 stabbing death of 16-year-old Dennis Marquez and the 2013 shootings of 17-year-old Michael Beltre and 23-year-old Rafael Alam. Santana, 33, faces a statutory maximum sentence of life in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on February 8, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty.
Ediberto Santana, a/k/a 'Flaco Veneno,' pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy involving murder for his long-time leadership of the Sunset Trinitarios, a violent subset of the national Trinitarios street gang that controlled territory across Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn. Under his direction, the gang perpetrated a near-constant string of violent crimes for nearly a decade, including the March 13, 2011, stabbing death of 16-year-old Dennis Marquez, the October 23, 2013, shooting of 17-year-old Michael Beltre, and the November 17, 2013, shooting of 23-year-old Rafael Alam. Santana, 33, of Brooklyn, admitted to orchestrating these murders and other acts of violence as part of his leadership role. He faces a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison, with sentencing scheduled for February 8, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, with critical support from the DEA, HSI, NYPD, NY State Police, and NYC Department of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Celia V. Cohen, Jacqueline C. Kelly, Lindsey Keenan, and Jacob R. Fiddelman led the prosecution under the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams emphasized that the guilty plea underscores the Department’s commitment to holding gang leaders accountable for violence, regardless of how much time has passed.
Extracted insights
- person damian williams
- person ediberto santana
- person sunset trinitarios
- person sunset trinitarios gang
- Ediberto Santana pled guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy involving murder
- Ediberto Santana is leader of Sunset Trinitarios gang
- Sunset Trinitarios controlled territory in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn
- Ediberto Santana ordered murder of Dennis Marquez on March 13, 2011
- Ediberto Santana ordered murder of Michael Beltre on October 23, 2013
- Ediberto Santana ordered murder of Rafael Alam on November 17, 2013
- Ediberto Santana scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Paul A. Crotty on February 8, 2023
- Damian Williams is United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York
- Ediberto Santana faces maximum sentence of life in prison
Press Release Leader Of Sunset Trinitarios Gang Pleads Guilty To Racketeering Thursday, October 6, 2022 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that EDIBERTO SANTANA, a/k/a “Flaco Veneno,” pled guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy involving murder, arising out of SANTANA’s long-time leadership of the Sunset Trinitarios gang. SANTANA pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Today’s guilty plea should serve as a reminder that we are committed to seeking justice for victims no matter the passage of time and to holding gang leaders responsible for the violence that they instigate.” According to the Indictment, SANTANA’s plea agreement, and statements made in Court: SANTANA is the long-time leader of the Sunset Trinitarios (“Sunset”), a violent set of the national Trinitarios street gang that controlled territory in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn, among other places. Under SANTANA’s leadership and at SANTANA’s direction, Sunset perpetrated a near-constant string of violent crime for nearly a decade, including murders, shootings, assaults, and robberies. Among other acts of violence, SANTANA ordered the March 13, 2011, murder of Dennis Marquez, age 16, who was stabbed to death in the Bronx; the October 23, 2013, murder of Michael Beltre, age 17, who was shot and killed in the Bronx; and the November 17, 2013, murder of Rafael Alam, age 23, who was shot and killed in the Bronx. * * * SANTANA, 33, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy with murder as a special sentencing factor, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. The statutory maximum sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing will be determined by a judge. SANTANA is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Crotty on February 8, 2023. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the New York City Police Department, the New York State Police, and the New York City Department of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Celia V. Cohen, Jacqueline C. Kelly, Lindsey Keenan, and Jacob R. Fiddelman are in charge of the prosecution. The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Contact Nicholas Biase (212) 637-2600 Updated October 6, 2022 Topic Violent Crime Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 22-312
Press Release Leader Of Sunset Trinitarios Gang Pleads Guilty To Racketeering Thursday, October 6, 2022 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that EDIBERTO SANTANA, a/k/a “Flaco Veneno,” pled guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy involving murder, arising out of SANTANA’s long-time leadership of the Sunset Trinitarios gang. SANTANA pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Today’s guilty plea should serve as a reminder that we are committed to seeking justice for victims no matter the passage of time and to holding gang leaders responsible for the violence that they instigate.” According to the Indictment, SANTANA’s plea agreement, and statements made in Court: SANTANA is the long-time leader of the Sunset Trinitarios (“Sunset”), a violent set of the national Trinitarios street gang that controlled territory in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn, among other places. Under SANTANA’s leadership and at SANTANA’s direction, Sunset perpetrated a near-constant string of violent crime for nearly a decade, including murders, shootings, assaults, and robberies. Among other acts of violence, SANTANA ordered the March 13, 2011, murder of Dennis Marquez, age 16, who was stabbed to death in the Bronx; the October 23, 2013, murder of Michael Beltre, age 17, who was shot and killed in the Bronx; and the November 17, 2013, murder of Rafael Alam, age 23, who was shot and killed in the Bronx. * * * SANTANA, 33, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy with murder as a special sentencing factor, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. The statutory maximum sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing will be determined by a judge. SANTANA is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Crotty on February 8, 2023. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the New York City Police Department, the New York State Police, and the New York City Department of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Celia V. Cohen, Jacqueline C. Kelly, Lindsey Keenan, and Jacob R. Fiddelman are in charge of the prosecution. The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Contact Nicholas Biase (212) 637-2600 Updated October 6, 2022 Topic Violent Crime Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 22-312