Danielle R. Sassoon, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the sentencing of YAUREL CENTENO, a/k/a “Flex,” the last of 11 defendants to be sentenced in a case involving members of a street gang known as “WashSide” or “Wash” in the Bronx, New York. CENTENO was sentenced to 24 years in prison for crimes relating to his membership in WashSide, including the murder of 20-year-old Tyrone Almodovar on June 26, 2020, and the gunpoint robbery of a pawnshop on June 27, 2020. CENTENO also participated in a crime spree in 2020 comprised of dozens of other robberies and larcenies stretching across more than 10 states between Maine and Alabama. CENTENO previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering and conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering on February 2, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman, who imposed today’s sentence.
U.S. Attorney Danielle R. Sassoon said: “The WashSide gang terrorized neighborhoods in the Bronx and beyond by killing, shooting, slashing, and robbing people. Together with our law enforcement partners, we have now held WashSide’s members accountable not only for the murder of Tyrone Almodovar, a senseless killing, but for countless other crimes committed by the gang all across the country. We will not let violent gangs continue to endanger the welfare of New Yorkers.”
According to the Superseding Indictment and Informations, public court filings, and statements made in court:
From at least 2015 to 2022, the members of “WashSide” or “Wash,” a criminal enterprise based in the Bronx, New York, committed multiple acts of violence against members of rival street gangs and others. To make money for the gang, protect the gang’s territory, and promote the gang’s standing, members of WashSide engaged in, among other things, armed robberies and carjackings, drug trafficking, wire fraud, and violence, including murder, attempted murder, and assaults with dangerous weapons. The members of WashSide also travelled outside New York City and New York State, robbing and stealing from stores across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and Southeast, principally during the height of the pandemic in 2020. For years, WashSide engaged in disputes with rival crews in the Bronx, which resulted in numerous acts of violence. Among their violent crimes were the following offenses.
On June 26, 2020, following a car chase, Boss Terrell, a/k/a “Sauce,” Centeno, Lydell Seymore, a/k/a “Bugout,” and Darrell Spencer, a/k/a “Rell,” shot and killed Tyrone Almodovar.
On June 27, 2020, CENTENO, Isaiah Thomas, a/k/a “Zay,” a/k/a “Chicago,” Jacob Baker, and Tyshawn Brogdon, a/k/a “Shawn,” participated in the gunpoint robbery of a pawnshop, in which multiple victims were struck with a firearm or had a firearm held up to their heads.
On July 29, 2020, TERRELL shot at rival gang members.
On August 18, 2020, CENTENO robbed an electronics store, cutting open the hand of an employee who attempted to resist him.
On June 13, 2021, Noel Carr, a/k/a “Noey,” participated in the assault of a rival gang member who was slashed with a knife.
On September 17, 2021, BROGDON and BAKER committed an armed carjacking at an auto shop, crashing the stolen car almost immediately as an employee was dragged alongside it.
On August 21, 2021, THOMAS, BAKER, and Antwan Mosley, a/k/a “Ant,” committed a drive-by shooting that targeted rival gang members but injured two innocent teenage bystanders.
On December 30, 2021, SEYMORE and Mamadou Diallo, a/k/a “Haji,” a/k/a “Aladje,” committed another armed carjacking, seizing a car at gunpoint from a driver whom they also stripped of much of his clothing in the middle of winter.
On August 19, 2022, BAKER and Rasheed Chapman, a/k/a “Ra,” committed another shooting that similarly resulted in an innocent bystander being struck in the chest.
A chart containing the names of the defendants, the charges they were convicted of, and the sentences they received is set forth below.
Ms. Sassoon praised the outstanding work of the New York City Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Courtney L. Heavey and Thomas John Wright are in charge of the prosecution.
| Defendant | Age | Convictions | Sentence |
Boss Terrell, a/k/a “Sauce” | 23 | Conspiracy to Commit Murder in Aid of Racketeering and Attempted Murder and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering | 22 Years |
YAUREL CENTENO, a/k/a “Flex” | 23 | Racketeering Conspiracy and Conspiracy to Commit Murder in Aid of Racketeering | 24 Years |
Lydell Seymore, a/k/a “Bugout” | 20 | Racketeering Conspiracy and Interstate Transportation of Stolen Goods | 20 Years |
Darrell Spencer, a/k/a “Rell” | 26 | Racketeering Conspiracy | 16 Years |
Isaiah Thomas, a/k/a “Zay,” a/k/a “Chicago” | 25 | Attempted Murder and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering, Use of a Firearm for a Crime of Violence | 16 Years |
| Jacob Baker | 20 | Racketeering Conspiracy and Use of a Firearm for a Crime of Violence | 200 Months |
Tyshawn Brogdon, a/k/a “Shawn” | 21 | Racketeering Conspiracy and Use of a Firearm for Carjacking and Robbery | 100 Months |
Rasheed Chapman, a/k/a “Ra” | 20 | Attempted Murder and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering and Use of a Firearm for a Crime of Violence | 150 Months |
Mamadou Diallo, a/k/a “Haji,” a/k/a “Aladje”
| 24 | Racketeering Conspiracy | 7 Years |
Antwan Mosley, a/k/a “Ant” | 22 | Attempted Murder and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering and Use of a Firearm for a Crime of Violence | 10 Years |
Noel Carr, a/k/a “Noey,” | 23 | Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering and Aggravated Identity Theft | 70 Months |
