Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the unsealing of a federal indictment charging LUIGI JAQUEZ, KARILIE HERRERA, a/k/a “Choco,” a/k/a “Choco Black,” and SACHA SANTIAGO with the June 24, 2008, murder of Maximiliano Campusano, 33.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “As alleged, Jaquez, Herrera, and Santiago planned the gunpoint robbery of Maximiliano Campusano, which ended in Campusano’s murder. Thanks to the outstanding work of the FBI, the defendants have been arrested and charged with this terrible crime. We will continue to work with our partners in law enforcement, no matter how much time passes, to hold murderers responsible for their crimes.”
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. stated: “More than nine years has passed since Mr. Campusano was murdered, but time doesn’t change the fact that those responsible deserve to be brought to justice. We want the community we serve to know we are committed to tracking down and following all the evidence to solve crimes, no matter how much time it takes.”
According to the Indictment[1]:
On June 24, 2008, JAQUEZ, HERRERA, and SANTIAGO planned to rob, and attempted to rob, Campusano, using a gun, in the vicinity of 20 Bogardus Place, New York, New York. During the attempt to carry out the armed robbery, one of the charged defendants’ co-conspirators shot and killed Campusano.
JAQUEZ, 28, and SANTIAGO, 25, both of Manhattan, New York, were arrested this morning by the FBI. HERRERA, 26, also of Manhattan, New York, was taken into federal custody yesterday evening. The defendants will be presented later today before Chief United States Magistrate Judge Debra Freeman. The case has been assigned to United States District Judge Paul A. Crotty.
The sole count of the Indictment charges the defendants with use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in the murder of Campusano, and aiding and abetting the same. JAQUEZ faces a maximum sentence of life in prison or death. HERRERA and SANTIAGO face a maximum sentence of life in prison. The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants would be determined by the judge.
Mr. Kim thanked the New York City Police Department’s 34th Precinct Detective Squad for its determined efforts in this investigation.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the descriptions of the Indictment constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
