Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), today announced additional charges against six alleged members of a street gang known as the “Young Bronx Money Getters” or “YBMG” in the Bronx, New York. SHPENDIM HAXHAJ, a/k/a “White Mike,” YELTSIN BELTRAN, a/k/a “Yells,” BORIS BELTRAN, a/k/a “Bebe,” JEREMY CEDENO, a/k/a “Jerm,” FRANCISCO ORTEGA, a/k/a “Fresh,” and IVIS PERDOMO, a/k/a “Light,” all of whom are members of YBMG, were charged in a Superseding Indictment with racketeering conspiracy, drug trafficking, and firearms offenses. HAXHAJ, YELTSIN BELTRAN, BORIS BELTRAN, CEDENO, and PERDOMO were also charged with engaging in violent crimes in aid of racketeering. LUCAS CHAJECKI, a/k/a ‘Luc Luc,” whom members of YBMG allegedly hired to commit a murder, HAXHAJ, and BORIS BELTRAN, are additionally charged with the August 16, 2019 murder of Isael Lagares in the Bronx. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla.
SHPENDIM HAXHAJ, YELTSIN BELTRAN, BORIS BELTRAN, JEREMY CEDENO, FRANCISCO ORTEGA, and IVIS PERDOMO were already in custody in connection with charges contained in a previous indictment related to this prosecution. LUCAS CHAJECKI is in state custody in connection with his alleged murder of Isael Lagares and will be transferred into federal custody.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged in the Superseding Indictment, YBMG was an extremely violent street gang that brutalized the Bronx with guns and drugs for at least 15 years. Among YBMG’s many victims was Isael Lagares, who was allegedly gunned down at the age of 27 by Lucas Chajecki at the direction of Shpendim Haxhaj and Boris Beltran. With this superseding indictment, we take another step towards holding YBMG’s members and leaders accountable for their alleged crimes.”
Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Office of DEA Frank A. Tarentino III said: “The DEA’s mission is to keep people safe and healthy. We accomplish this by holding accountable those who cause the most harm in our communities. Just like defendants in this investigation who are charged with some of the most serious violent crimes imaginable. I applaud the tenacity of the investigative team in bringing these violent offenders to justice and holding them accountable.”
According to the allegations in the Superseding Indictment filed today in federal court:[1]
From at least in or about 2006 to in or about 2021, YBMG was a criminal enterprise centered in the Bronx, New York. In order to make money for the gang, protect the gang’s territory, and promote the gang’s standing, members of YBMG engaged in, among other things, narcotics trafficking and violence, including murder. To that end, YBMG members sold heroin, cocaine, and marijuana, promoted their gang affiliation on social media, possessed firearms, and engaged in shootings as part of their gang membership and narcotics trafficking.
As alleged in the Superseding Indictment, on or about August 16, 2019, SHPENDIM HAXHAJ and BORIS BELTRAN hired LUCAS CHAJECKI to murder a rival gang member, and CHAJECKI then shot and killed Isael Lagares in the Bronx, New York.
YBMG members also participated in a conspiracy to distribute narcotics in New York and elsewhere. SHPENDIM HAXHAJ, YELTSIN BELTRAN, BORIS BELTRAN, JEREMY CEDENO, FRANCISCO ORTEGA, and IVIS PERDOMO participated in a conspiracy with other individuals to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin, five kilograms of cocaine, and marijuana from at least in or about 2006 up to and including 2021.
Between in or about 2006 and in or about 2021, SHPENDIM HAXHAJ, YELTSIN BELTRAN, BORIS BELTRAN, JEREMY CEDENO, FRANCISCO ORTEGA, and IVIS PERDOMO also possessed, used, brandished, and discharged firearms in furtherance of the narcotics conspiracy in which they all participated. SHPENDIM HAXHAJ, YELTSIN BELTRAN, BORIS BELTRAN, JEREMY CEDENO, and IVIS PERDOMO are further charged with engaging in violent crimes in aid of racketeering, and using, brandishing, and discharging firearms in furtherance of these crimes of violence.
A chart containing the names of the defendants who were charged today, and the charges and maximum penalties they face, are attached. The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants would be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the FBI and DEA.
The charges contained in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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SHPENDIM HAXHAJ, a/k/a “White Mike” | | Racketeering Conspiracy; Narcotics Conspiracy; Use, Brandishing, and Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Narcotics Conspiracy; Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Murder for Hire; Murder for Hire Conspiracy; Use of a Firearm Resulting in Death; Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Use, Brandishing, and Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence | |
YELTSIN BELTRAN, a/k/a “Yells” | | Racketeering Conspiracy; Narcotics Conspiracy; Use, Brandishing, and Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Narcotics Conspiracy; Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Use, Brandishing, and Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence | Maximum of life in prison; mandatory minimum 30 years in prison (20 years to run consecutive to any other sentence) |
BORIS BELTRAN, a/k/a “Bebe” | | Racketeering Conspiracy; Narcotics Conspiracy; Use, Brandishing, and Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Narcotics Conspiracy; Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Murder for Hire; Murder for Hire Conspiracy; Use of a Firearm Resulting in Death; Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Use, Brandishing, and Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence | |
JEREMY CEDENO, a/k/a “Jerm” | | Racketeering Conspiracy; Narcotics Conspiracy; Use, Brandishing, and Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Narcotics Conspiracy; Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Use, Brandishing, and Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence | Maximum of life in prison; mandatory minimum 30 years in prison (20 years to run consecutive to any other sentence) |
IVIS PERDOMO, a/k/a “Lite” | | Racketeering Conspiracy; Narcotics Conspiracy; Use, Brandishing, and Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Narcotics Conspiracy; Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Use, Brandishing, and Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence | Maximum of life in prison; mandatory minimum 30 years in prison (20 years to run consecutive to any other sentence) |
FRANCISCO ORTEGA, a/k/a “Fresh” | | Racketeering Conspiracy; Narcotics Conspiracy; Use, Brandishing, and Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Narcotics Conspiracy | Maximum of life in prison; mandatory minimum 20 years in prison (10 years to run consecutive to any other sentence) |
LUCAS CHAJECKI, a/k/a “Luc Luc” | | Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Murder for Hire; Murder for Hire Conspiracy; Use of a Firearm Resulting in Death | |
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Superseding Indictment, and the description of the Superseding Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
