2022-09-22 DOJ SDNY press_release 120 KB 6,015 chars

Two Leaders And Member Of Rollin’ 30s Crips Gang Sentenced

Caption
United States v. Torres
summary

Randy Torres and Walston Owen, leaders of the Rollin’ 30s Crips gang, were each sentenced to 39.5 years for racketeering and ordering murders, while Derrick Richardson received 24.5 years for shooting Nestor Suazo at Torres’s direction, with the gang also responsible for another murder and widespread drug trafficking and violence.

paragraph

Randy Torres and Walston Owen, leaders of the Rollin’ 30s Crips gang, were each sentenced to 39.5 years in prison after trial for racketeering conspiracy, multiple acts of violence, and narcotics trafficking. Derrick Richardson, who carried out the September 2015 murder of Nestor Suazo at Torres’s direction, received a 24.5-year sentence, to run concurrently with an existing 11-year term for related offenses. The gang, which operated across the Bronx and beyond, was also responsible for the 2015 murder of Victor Chafla, multiple shootings, and used a Bronx elementary school as a meeting hub for gang activities.

narrative

Randy Torres, known as 'Big Homie' or 'Rico,' and Walston Owen, known as 'Purpose,' were sentenced to 39.5 years in prison each after being convicted at trial of racketeering conspiracy and related violent crimes as leaders of the Rollin’ 30s Crips gang. Torres, who claimed to be four levels from the top of national Crips leadership, oversaw hundreds of members across the Eastern U.S. and used his job at a Bronx elementary school to hold gang meetings. Owen, as head of the Stratford Avenue subset, stored weapons, collected money, and ordered multiple shootings, including the March 2015 murder of Victor Chafla and a May 2015 shooting that injured two bystanders. Derrick Richardson, a soldier under Torres, received a 24.5-year sentence for the September 2015 murder of Nestor Suazo, carried out at Torres’s direct order, and his sentence runs concurrently with an 11-year term from a prior conviction. Richardson had previously pleaded guilty to narcotics and racketeering conspiracy charges related to the gang’s activities. The gang engaged in systematic violence, including murder, attempted murder, robbery, and narcotics distribution, with evidence showing Richardson fleeing the Suazo murder scene and discarding the weapon. All three defendants were sentenced by Judge Victor Marrero and received additional supervised release terms, with the case prosecuted by the Southern District of New York and supported by NYPD and HSI.

Enriched metadata

Scheme
racketeering (100%)
Court
Southern District of New York
Outcome
convicted
Classified racketeering(confidence 100%). No EDGAR filing fingerprint (criminal/DOJ-side scheme). detection rule →
Parties
United States of AmericaTORRESET AL
Keywords
torresgangrichardsoncripsnewrollinrollin cripsowenrandy torresderrick richardsonlinkmurderprisonshootingbronx

Extracted insights

Entities 6
  • person damian williams
  • person derrick richardson
  • person nestor suazo
  • person randy torres
  • person victor marrero
  • person walston owen
Triples 14
  • Randy Torres sentenced to 39 and 1/2 years in prison
  • Walston Owen sentenced to 39 and 1/2 years in prison
  • Derrick Richardson sentenced to 24 and 1/2 years in prison
  • Derrick Richardson killed Nestor Suazo on September 19, 2015 in the Bronx, New York
  • Randy Torres ordered shooting that killed Nestor Suazo in September 2015
  • Randy Torres oversaw hundreds of Crips members in the Eastern United States
  • Randy Torres was leader of Rollin' 30s Crips street gang
  • Walston Owen was leader of Rollin' 30s Crips street gang
  • Derrick Richardson served under Randy Torres in the Rollin' 30s Crips
  • Victor Marrero imposed sentences on Randy Torres, Walston Owen, and Derrick Richardson
  • Damian Williams announced sentencing of Randy Torres, Walston Owen, and Derrick Richardson
  • Rollin' 30s Crips committed acts of violence including murder, attempted murder, and robbery from 2009 to 2017
  • Randy Torres was employed as maintenance worker in a Bronx elementary school
  • Nestor Suazo was age 25 at time of death
View original DOJ press releasejustice.gov
Extracted body text (6,015c)
Press Release Two Leaders And Member Of Rollin’ 30s Crips Gang Sentenced Thursday, September 22, 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 “Big Homie” Randy Torres Oversaw Hundreds of Crips Members in the Eastern United States and, with Derrick Richardson, Participated in Murder of Nestor Suazo Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that defendants RANDY TORRES, a/k/a “Rico,” was sentenced to 39 and 1/2 years in prison and WALSTON OWEN, a/k/a “Purpose,” was sentenced to 39 and 1/2 years in prison today for their roles as leaders of the violent Rollin’ 30s Crips street gang. DERRICK RICHARDSON, a/k/a “J-ROCC,” who served under Torres in the Rollin’ 30s Crips, received a sentence of 24 and 1/2 years in prison today for shooting and killing Nestor Suazo, 25, on September 19, 2015, in the Bronx, New York. Richardson’s sentence was imposed to run concurrently with a previously imposed sentence of 11 years in prison for related Crips offenses. United States District Judge Victor Marrero imposed today’s sentences. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Randy Torres and Walston Owen were leaders of a violent gang that terrorized the law-abiding citizens of the Bronx neighborhoods where the gang operated. Under their leadership, two individuals were killed, and others were caught in the crossfire of the gang’s shootings. One of those individuals, Nestor Suazo, was killed at Torres’s direction by Derrick Richardson. Nothing can undo the trauma experienced by his family and the many others affected by the defendants’ crimes, but justice requires that those responsible be held accountable. Today, Torres, Owen, and Richardson were rightly sentenced to decades in prison for their horrific crimes.” According to the allegations contained in the Superseding Indictments, other documents in the public record, and the evidence at trial: From at least in or about 2009 up to and including in or about 2017, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, RANDY TORRES, WALSTON OWEN, DERRICK RICHARDSON, and others were members or associates of a racketeering enterprise known as the “Rollin’ 30s,” also known as the “Harlem Mafia Crips” or “Dirt Gang.” In order to fund the enterprise, protect and expand its interests, and promote its standing, members and associates of the Rollin’ 30s committed, conspired, attempted, and threatened to commit acts of violence, including murder, attempted murder, and robbery; and they conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute narcotics. TORRES, a “Big Homie,” described himself as “four levels from the top” of the Crips national leadership and oversaw the management of multiple Crips sets and hundreds of Crips members in New York City and elsewhere. TORRES was employed as a maintenance worker in a Bronx elementary school during part of the offense and used the school and its gym to hold gang meetings where he handled gang business. The evidence at trial showed that TORRES committed and ordered multiple acts of violence, including ordering a shooting in September 2015 that killed Nester Suazo, a/k/a “Smacc.” The shooting was carried out by RICHARDSON, a soldier in the Rollin’ 30s who served under Torres. RICHARDSON was captured on surveillance footage fleeing the scene of the murder and discarding the gun he used in the shooting. OWEN was the leader of the “Stratford Avenue Rollin’ 30s,” a subset of the gang in the Bronx. As the head of that set, Owen stored guns for the gang, collected money, issued directives to younger or less powerful members, and participated in numerous acts of gang violence, including committing a shooting in May 2015 that injured two innocent bystanders and ordering a shooting that resulted in the March 2015 Bronx murder of another innocent bystander, Victor Chafla. * * * TORRES and OWEN were convicted after trial before United States District Judge Victor Marrero in February 2022 of racketeering conspiracy offenses. OWEN was also convicted of attempted murder in aid of racketeering, assault resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering, and related firearms offenses. Those charges were brought in the case United States v. Torres, et al., 16 Cr. 809 (VM). As part of that same case, RICHARDSON previously pled guilty in January 2019 before Judge Marrero to narcotics conspiracy and racketeering conspiracy. In October 2021, RICHARDSON pled guilty in a related case to narcotics offenses in connection with Suazo’s homicide. Those charges were brought in the case Unites States v. Richardson, 20 Cr. 299 (VM). In addition to the prison terms, Judge Marrero sentenced Torres, 41, of New York, to three years of supervised release, Owen, 38, of New York, to five years of supervised release, and Richardson, 29, of the Bronx, New York, to three years of supervised release. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Anden Chow and Jacqueline C. Kelly are in charge of the prosecution. Contact Nicholas Biase (212) 637-2600 Updated September 22, 2022 Topic Violent Crime Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 22-298
OCR text (6,015c · plain-text · 99% conf)
Press Release Two Leaders And Member Of Rollin’ 30s Crips Gang Sentenced Thursday, September 22, 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 “Big Homie” Randy Torres Oversaw Hundreds of Crips Members in the Eastern United States and, with Derrick Richardson, Participated in Murder of Nestor Suazo Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that defendants RANDY TORRES, a/k/a “Rico,” was sentenced to 39 and 1/2 years in prison and WALSTON OWEN, a/k/a “Purpose,” was sentenced to 39 and 1/2 years in prison today for their roles as leaders of the violent Rollin’ 30s Crips street gang. DERRICK RICHARDSON, a/k/a “J-ROCC,” who served under Torres in the Rollin’ 30s Crips, received a sentence of 24 and 1/2 years in prison today for shooting and killing Nestor Suazo, 25, on September 19, 2015, in the Bronx, New York. Richardson’s sentence was imposed to run concurrently with a previously imposed sentence of 11 years in prison for related Crips offenses. United States District Judge Victor Marrero imposed today’s sentences. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Randy Torres and Walston Owen were leaders of a violent gang that terrorized the law-abiding citizens of the Bronx neighborhoods where the gang operated. Under their leadership, two individuals were killed, and others were caught in the crossfire of the gang’s shootings. One of those individuals, Nestor Suazo, was killed at Torres’s direction by Derrick Richardson. Nothing can undo the trauma experienced by his family and the many others affected by the defendants’ crimes, but justice requires that those responsible be held accountable. Today, Torres, Owen, and Richardson were rightly sentenced to decades in prison for their horrific crimes.” According to the allegations contained in the Superseding Indictments, other documents in the public record, and the evidence at trial: From at least in or about 2009 up to and including in or about 2017, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, RANDY TORRES, WALSTON OWEN, DERRICK RICHARDSON, and others were members or associates of a racketeering enterprise known as the “Rollin’ 30s,” also known as the “Harlem Mafia Crips” or “Dirt Gang.” In order to fund the enterprise, protect and expand its interests, and promote its standing, members and associates of the Rollin’ 30s committed, conspired, attempted, and threatened to commit acts of violence, including murder, attempted murder, and robbery; and they conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute narcotics. TORRES, a “Big Homie,” described himself as “four levels from the top” of the Crips national leadership and oversaw the management of multiple Crips sets and hundreds of Crips members in New York City and elsewhere. TORRES was employed as a maintenance worker in a Bronx elementary school during part of the offense and used the school and its gym to hold gang meetings where he handled gang business. The evidence at trial showed that TORRES committed and ordered multiple acts of violence, including ordering a shooting in September 2015 that killed Nester Suazo, a/k/a “Smacc.” The shooting was carried out by RICHARDSON, a soldier in the Rollin’ 30s who served under Torres. RICHARDSON was captured on surveillance footage fleeing the scene of the murder and discarding the gun he used in the shooting. OWEN was the leader of the “Stratford Avenue Rollin’ 30s,” a subset of the gang in the Bronx. As the head of that set, Owen stored guns for the gang, collected money, issued directives to younger or less powerful members, and participated in numerous acts of gang violence, including committing a shooting in May 2015 that injured two innocent bystanders and ordering a shooting that resulted in the March 2015 Bronx murder of another innocent bystander, Victor Chafla. * * * TORRES and OWEN were convicted after trial before United States District Judge Victor Marrero in February 2022 of racketeering conspiracy offenses. OWEN was also convicted of attempted murder in aid of racketeering, assault resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering, and related firearms offenses. Those charges were brought in the case United States v. Torres, et al., 16 Cr. 809 (VM). As part of that same case, RICHARDSON previously pled guilty in January 2019 before Judge Marrero to narcotics conspiracy and racketeering conspiracy. In October 2021, RICHARDSON pled guilty in a related case to narcotics offenses in connection with Suazo’s homicide. Those charges were brought in the case Unites States v. Richardson, 20 Cr. 299 (VM). In addition to the prison terms, Judge Marrero sentenced Torres, 41, of New York, to three years of supervised release, Owen, 38, of New York, to five years of supervised release, and Richardson, 29, of the Bronx, New York, to three years of supervised release. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Anden Chow and Jacqueline C. Kelly are in charge of the prosecution. Contact Nicholas Biase (212) 637-2600 Updated September 22, 2022 Topic Violent Crime Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 22-298