NYPD ANNOUNCES FEWEST MURDERS, SHOOTING INCIDENTS, AND SHOOTING VICTIMS IN RECORDED HISTORY FOR THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF THE YEAR

 

Major Crime Declined 10.6% Citywide and More than 6% in Transit in May

Set New Record Low for the Fewest Shooting Incidents and Shooting Victims in May

Safest Start to the Year in Public Housing in Recorded History with Fewest Murders, Shooting Incidents, Shooting Victims, and Robberies

Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch today announced that the NYPD delivered the fewest murders, shooting incidents, and shooting victims in recorded history for the first five months of the year. Year to date, murders were down 20.9% (102 vs. 129), the lowest level ever recorded for the first five months of any year, beating the previous record of 113, set in 2014 and 2017. Shootings were down 5.7% with 247 total incidents, surpassing the previous record of 262 set in 2025, and shooting victims were down 7.1% with 289 total victims, surpassing the previous low of 309 set in 2019.

The NYPD also broke records for the month of May. In May, there were two fewer shooting incidents compared to the previous record low set in 2025 (51 vs. 53), and seven fewer shooting victims than the previous record also set in 2025 (58 vs. 65).

Overall major crime decreased 10.6% citywide (9,662 vs. 10,809) with 1,147 fewer reported crimes compared to last May. Year to date, major crime was down 6.2% (44,955 vs. 47,929) with reductions in all five boroughs.

The NYPD continued to deliver historic lows in crime in New York City’s public housing with the fewest murders, shooting incidents, shooting victims, and robberies for the first five months of any year in recorded history.

“Across our city, the NYPD is delivering on its mission to keep New Yorkers safe,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “With record lows in murders, shooting incidents, and shooting victims, as well as the safest start to the year in public housing, and continued reductions in subway crime, New Yorkers across every corner of our city are benefitting from a police department that is focused and strategic. These accomplishments are the result of a precision policing approach that follows the data, goes after guns, takes down gangs, and puts our officers where and when they are needed most. In the month of May, crime plunged by 10.6% citywide. As we enter the summer and prepare for an unprecedented number of large-scale events, the men and women of the NYPD will continue to put in the hard work necessary to keep New York City safe.”

Historic Lows in Shootings Citywide

In May, the NYPD continued to deploy its precision policing approach to combat gun violence. Year to date, shootings reached a record low of 247, beating the previous low of 262 in 2025, and shooting victims reached a record low of 289, beating the previous record of 309 set in 2019. In May, shooting incidents reached a record low of 51, beating the previous low of 53 set in 2025, and shooting victims reached a record low of 58, beating the previous low of 65 set in 2025.

For the month, shooting incidents and shooting victims dropped compared to last May with a 3.8% (51 vs. 53) and 10.8% (58 vs. 65) decrease, respectively. Year to date, shooting incidents declined 5.7% (247 vs. 262) and shooting victims declined 7.1% (289 vs. 311). Brooklyn led the city with a 47.6% reduction in shooting incidents (11 vs. 21).

Today’s announcement comes on the heels of the safest Memorial Day weekend in the city’s history with only three shooting incidents and four shooting victims across the four-day stretch, from Friday, May 22 through Monday, May 25, breaking last year’s record when there were seven shooting incidents and seven shooting victims.

The NYPD’s sustained efforts to dismantle violent gangs have also contributed to reductions in shootings citywide and the number of guns taken off the streets. So far this year, NYPD detectives have carried out 20 gang-related takedowns, and the department has seized nearly 2,000 guns.

Driving Down Major Crime

Major crime decreased 10.6% in the month of May, and major crime was down 6.2% citywide for the first five months of the year, with reductions in all five boroughs and nearly 3,000 fewer crimes than the same time last year.

Additionally, across major crime categories:

• Murder declined 20.9% (102 vs. 129) year to date, a record low, and there were reductions in all five boroughs;
• Burglary declined 19.5% (871 vs. 1,082) in May, the second lowest in recorded history, and there were double-digit declines in every borough year to date;
• Robbery declined 18.1% (1,165 vs. 1,423) in May and was down 11% year to date (5,198 vs. 5,838);
• Auto theft declined 13% (1,072 vs. 1,232) in May with Manhattan experiencing a 44.3% reduction. Auto theft was down 9.6% year to date (4,734 vs. 5,237);
• Grand larceny declined 12.4% (3,625 vs. 4,136) in May and 4.6% year to date (17,716 vs. 18,576).

Felony assaults increased slightly by 0.4% (2,734 vs. 2,722) in May. Over the past several years, there has been an increase in felony assaults, and the main drivers of those increases are domestic incidents (54% increase since 2020), assaults on police officers (103% increase since 2020), and assaults on other government workers (200% increase since 2020).

To address the rise in domestic violence incidents, Commissioner Tisch created the Domestic Violence Unit within the Detective Bureau, a streamlined unit with 450 domestic violence investigators. So far this year, domestic violence arrests are up 2.9%.

May saw a 10.4% decrease in reported rape incidents (172 vs. 192) compared to the same month last year. In September 2024, legislative changes enacted through the Rape is Rape Act rightfully broadened the legal definition of rape in New York State to include additional forms of sexual assault. Over the month of May, 18% (31) of all reported rapes resulted from the expanded legal definition, and 26% (44) occurred before May 2026. Year to date, rapes have increased 6.7% (893 vs. 837), with 20% (175) resulting from the law change and 32% (287) occurring before 2026. Through the creation of the first-in-the-nation Gender-Based Violence Policy and Training Unit, the NYPD has enhanced its work with advocates to encourage all survivors of sexual assault to come forward and report these incidents.

Retail theft continued its dramatic decline, falling 15% (3,851 vs. 4,528) in May compared to the same period last year. For the year, retail theft has declined in all five boroughs, leading to an 18.8% reduction citywide. The decline reflects the department’s focused approach to addressing retail theft: identifying crime patterns, deploying resources at high-propensity locations during peak hours, and shifting from pass-through enforcement to sustained investigations.

The Bronx Continues to Lead the City

The Bronx continues to lead the city in crime reductions, with the largest year-to-date decrease in major crime of any borough, down 11%. The Bronx also saw the greatest reduction citywide in auto thefts, down 27.1% for the year, and the borough experienced a 15.4% drop in robbery, a 13.7% drop in burglary, and a 13.1% drop in grand larceny for the month. To create a more focused and effective approach to fighting crime in the borough, Commissioner Tisch announced on May 20 the implementation of the new two patrol borough structure in the Bronx, Patrol Borough Bronx North (PBXN) and Patrol Borough Bronx South (PBXS) – the first division of the borough into separate patrol commands in NYPD history. Since the split, the newly created PBXS had the largest decrease in year-to-date index crimes with a 14.5% reduction.

Safest Start to the Year in Public Housing

The NYPD continues to deliver historic crime reductions in public housing developments across the city, breaking the record for murders, shooting incidents, shooting victims, and robberies. So far this year, murders are down a staggering 46.7% (8 vs. 15), shooting incidents are down 24.5% (40 vs. 53), shooting victims are down 30% (42 vs. 60), robberies are down 24.3% (289 vs. 382), and burglaries are down 18.8% (182 vs. 224). Major crime in public housing is down 8.7% (2,196 vs. 2,405) year to date and 11.6% (459 vs. 519) in May.

Keeping New York City’s Subways Safe

Last year was the safest year in New York City’s subway system since 2009, excluding the pandemic years. Building on that progress, major crime is down 1.1% (905 vs. 915) year to date and 6.5% (187 vs. 200) in May. There were zero shooting incidents and shooting victims in the subway system in May. In addition, grand larceny is down 7.2% (436 vs. 470) for the year.

Data-Driven Deployment: Violence Reduction Zones

To further mitigate violent crime and shootings across the city, the department launched its Summer Violence Reduction Plan in May. Since inception on May 4, major crime is down 27.9% (343 vs. 476), shooting victims are down 30.8% (9 vs. 13), and shooting incidents are down 11.1% (8 vs. 9) in the zones during deployment hours. The zones deploy up to 3,800 officers on nightly foot posts across 72 zones in 40 precincts, public housing, and the subway system.

To address youth violence, the department implemented its Youth Violence Safety Zones, modeled after the Violence Reduction Plan. These zones focus on the areas where young people are most at risk — commuter corridors, bus stops, and routes to and from school. Since its inception in September 2025, overall youth-related crime is down 52.7% (185 vs. 391), shooting incidents are down 61.9% (8 vs. 21), and shooting victims are down 60.9% (9 vs. 23) in the zones during deployment hours.

Combatting Hate Crimes

The NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force (HCTF) investigates allegations of hate crimes and bias-motivated incidents. After an incident is flagged as a possible hate crime, the HCTF investigates and determines, in consultation with the NYPD Legal Bureau, whether it constitutes a hate crime under New York State law. If an incident is deemed a hate crime under the law, it will be categorized as a confirmed hate crime. The NYPD provides data on confirmed hate crimes along with the universe of reported hate crimes — whether or not they are ultimately confirmed as hate crimes by the HCTF. The disclosure of both sets of numbers enhances transparency and reflects best practices in connection with hate crime reporting.

In May 2026, the HCTF confirmed 68 incidents as hate crimes and there were 98 incidents reported as hate crimes. Confirmed hate crimes are up by 74.4% (68 vs. 39) compared to the previous May. More than half of all confirmed hate crimes for the month, or 60.3%, were anti-Jewish, despite Jewish New Yorkers making up only 10% of the city’s population.

Year to date, the number of confirmed hate crimes increased by 8.6%, with 21 more confirmed hate crime incidents compared to the year prior (265 vs. 244).

*All crime statistics are preliminary and subject to further analysis, revision, or change. *

Major Crime Statistics: May 2026

Crime	May 2026	May 2025	+/-	% Change
Murder	23	22	1	4.5%
Rape	172	192	-20	-10.4%
Robbery	1,165	1,423	-258	-18.1%
Felony Assault	2,734	2,722	12	0.4%
Burglary	871	1,082	-211	-19.5%
Grand Larceny	3,625	4,136	-511	-12.4%
Grand Larceny Auto	1,072	1,232	-160	-13.0%
TOTAL	9,662	10,809	-1,147	-10.6%

Additional Statistics: May 2026

	May 2026	May  2025	+/-
Transit	187	200	-13	-6.5%
Housing	459	519	-60	-11.6%
Shooting Incidents	51	53	-2	-3.8%

Confirmed Hate Crime: May 2026 vs. May 2025

Motivation	2026 Confirmed	2025 Confirmed	+/-	% Change
Asian	3	2	1	50%
Black	0	5	-5	-100%
Ethnicity	1	2	-1	-50%
Gender	1	1	0	0%
Hispanic	1	0	1	***
Jewish	41	24	17	70.8%
Muslim	5	3	2	66.7%
Religion	10	1	9	900%
Sexual Orientation	5	1	4	400%
White	1	0	1	***
Total	68	39	29	74.4%

Reported Hate Crimes: May 2026

Motivation	Reported
Asian	4
Black	2
Ethnicity	2
Gender	1
Hispanic	1
Jewish	60
Muslim	5
Religion	12
Sexual Orientation	10
White	1
Total	98

Confirmed Hate Crime: Year to Date

Motivation	2026 Confirmed	2025 Confirmed	+/-	% Change
Age	1	0	1	***
Asian	9	11	-2	-18.2%
Black	18	21	-3	-14.3%
Ethnicity	4	12	-8	-66.7%
Gender	7	6	1	16.7%
Hispanic	9	3	6	200%
Jewish	152	143	9	6.3%
Muslim	17	10	7	70%
Religion	24	20	4	20%
Sexual Orientation	22	13	9	69.2%
White	2	5	-3	-60%
Total	265	244	21	8.6%

Member of an International Money Laundering Organization Pleads Guilty to Laundering Millions of Dollars in Drug Proceeds

A Georgia man pleaded guilty today to conspiring to launder the proceeds of drug trafficking.

According to court documents and proceedings, since at least 2021, Puquan Huang, 50, a Chinese national residing in Buford, Georgia, was a member of an international money laundering organization that engaged in a sophisticated trade-based money laundering scheme. 

Huang and his co-conspirators routinely traveled throughout the United States, including South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia, to collect bulk cash generated from the sale of drugs in the United States, including fentanyl and cocaine, from drug traffickers and distributors. Due to the illicit nature of the transactions, Huang and his co-conspirators confirmed their authorization to collect drug cash not by using their names or personal details, but by presenting verification codes, which were oftentimes unique serial numbers taken from U.S. currency notes. To avoid detection by law enforcement, Huang and his co-conspirators met with drug trafficking representatives at odd hours in atypical locations, such as gas stations and parking lots, for very short periods, and refrained from using traditional banking systems, such as wire transfers. Pickups of drug cash were typically coordinated by and occurred at the direction of co-conspirators. 

Using aliases, Huang and his co-conspirators primarily communicated on encrypted platforms, such as WeChat, with co-conspirators located in the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, and other foreign countries to arrange for the laundering of the drug proceeds by purchasing bulk electronics in the United States and exporting them to co-conspirators in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates. 

Huang conspired to launder several millions of dollars of drug proceeds, with money pickups and exchanges typically ranging between approximately $80,000 and $200,000. As part of the conspiracy, law enforcement stopped Huang transporting approximately $272,000 in drug proceeds in North Carolina. 

Huang pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A sentencing date has not been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Bryan P. Stirling for the District of South Carolina, and Administrator Terrance C. “Terry” Cole of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) made the announcement.

The DEA’s Charleston, South Carolina Resident Office and Atlanta, Georgia Division Office, Homeland Security Task Force/959 Group is investigating the case with assistance from the DEA’s Special Operations Division, Bilateral Investigations Unit; DEA’s Office of Special Intelligence, Document and Media Exploitation Unit; DEA’s office in Columbia, South Carolina; the FBI’s offices in Charleston and Columbia, South Carolina; the U.S. Air Force, Office of Special Investigations; and state and local law enforcement in South Carolina and North Carolina.

Trial Attorneys Jasmin Salehi Fashami and Stephanie Williamson of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Everett E. McMillian for the District of South Carolina are prosecuting the case.

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. 

MNF’s mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.

MNF’s Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit investigates and prosecutes sophisticated money laundering schemes involving financial facilitators, gatekeepers, and other individuals and entities laundering criminal proceeds, and litigates complex civil forfeiture cases to recover assets on behalf of victims. 

Four Tren De Aragua Members Who Illegally Entered The U.S. Plead Guilty To Murdering Two U.S. Citizens On NYC Street

 

The TdA Members Also Pled Guilty to Shooting and Injuring a Third U.S. Citizen During the May 2024 Shooting in the Bronx

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Acting Attorney General for the United States, Todd Blanche, United States Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, Director of Joint Task Force Vulcan (“JTFV”), Jacob Warren, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, and Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Pete Gizas, announced today that four members of the designated foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua (“TdA”), Keiber Jaen Martinez, a/k/a “Keybe,” SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO, a/k/a “Klei,” a/k/a “Kley,” EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ, a/k/a “Jefferson,” a/k/a “Efe Trebol,” and KEINEYER IBARRA-MUJICA, a/k/a “Keiner,” each pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote to two counts of murder through the use of a firearm and one count of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence in connection with their participation in the May 24, 2024, murders of Claretha LaQuesha Daniels and Justin Lawless and the non-fatal shooting of a third victim (“Victim-3”), all of whom were unarmed American citizens and residents of New York City.  A fifth codefendant and member of TdA, JARWIN VALERO-CALDERON, a/k/a “La Fama,” pled guilty last week to one count of racketeering conspiracy and one count of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence in connection with his participation in, among other crimes, a September 30, 2024, gunpoint carjacking in New York City.  Three additional codefendants previously pled guilty to other offenses and have been sentenced, and all eight in-custody defendants charged in the TdA prosecution before Judge Cote have now been convicted.

“As they have now admitted, these four members of Tren de Aragua entered the United States illegally and then brutally murdered Claretha LaQuesha Daniels and Justin Lawless on May 24, 2024, in the middle of a residential street in the Bronx, which resulted in another victim being shot and injured,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “This recent Memorial Day Sunday marked a tragic date: two years to the day that Ms. Daniels and Mr. Lawless lost their lives.  We extend our deep condolences to the family members of these victims and hope that today’s guilty pleas bring some comfort to them.  We are committed to investigating and charging all members of TdA and other international gangs who flout our immigration laws and flood our streets with guns, drugs, sex trafficking, and violence.  Today, we delivered two things every New York family wants: these four gun-toting, murderous criminals off our streets; and a message to international gangs—‘stay out of the United States.’”   

“Thanks to the hard work of our law enforcement partners and prosecutors, these four Tren de Aragua gang members will now face justice for their part in the ruthless and senseless murders of two Americans and the attempted murder of a third person in the Bronx two years ago,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.  “As a former AUSA who prosecuted violent crimes and gangs in the Bronx, this case hits home for me.  Tren de Aragua is a terrorist organization with no place and no future in the United States, and this Department of Justice will not stop until we have rooted out, dismantled, and destroyed them.”

“I’m thankful that the victims and their families finally get the justice they deserve,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin.  “Tren de Aragua is one of the most vicious gangs on planet earth.  They rape, maim, and murder for sport.  Under President Trump’s leadership, we are targeting and removing gang members from our communities and ensuring those that committed crimes in our country face justice.” 

“Although TdA started as a prison gang in Venezuela, it became a transnational criminal organization and foreign terrorist organization that gained a foothold in many cities in the United States, including New York City,” said JTFV Director Jacob Warren.  “As they have now admitted, these four TdA members killed two unarmed American citizens in the Bronx during a brutal shooting on a public street, and they will finally be held accountable for their crimes.  This case is directly in line with JTFV’s mission: a collaborative, whole-of-government, and nationwide effort to totally eliminate TdA.  To date, we have charged over 260 members and associates of TdA as part of these efforts.  We are grateful for the ongoing partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, and our law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to investigate this case.”   

“The NYPD will not allow violent gangs to terrorize our streets and threaten our communities,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch.  “These defendants, members of Tren de Aragua, viciously took two lives and shot a third victim, but thanks to our multi-agency investigation, they are now being held accountable.  I thank the NYPD investigators and our federal law enforcement partners for their tireless efforts in this case.  Together, we will continue to take down gangs, remove guns from our streets, and keep our neighborhoods safe.”

“These defendants carried out acts of cruelty and calculated violence that resulted in the cold-blooded murders of Claretha Daniels and Justin Lawless and left a third victim grievously wounded, shattering families and communities in ways that can never be fully repaired,” said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Pete Gizas.  “Their conduct is emblematic of the Tren de Aragua’s ruthless model of transnational gang activity, spanning the Bronx, Queens, and well beyond our borders—where extortion, human smuggling, sex trafficking, narcotics distribution, and gun violence are deployed to entrench their criminal enterprise and spread fear.  HSI New York, through the Homeland Security Task Force, will not yield an inch of authority or control to criminal street gangs that threaten the safety of our communities.”

According to the allegations contained in the Superseding Information and other public filings in this case:

TdA is a criminal organization that operated throughout New York City, including the boroughs of the Bronx and Queens, as well as internationally in Venezuela, Peru, and elsewhere.  The purposes of TdA included:

• Preserving and protecting the power and territory of TdA and its members and associates through acts involving murder, assault, robbery, other acts of violence, and threats of violence, including acts of violence and threats of violence directed at former members and associates of TdA who associated with a splinter organization known as Anti-Tren.
• Enriching the members and associates of TdA through, among other things:
• The unlawful smuggling of individuals, including young women from Venezuela, into Colombia, Peru and the U.S.;
  • The sex trafficking of young women (whom members and associates of TdA often refer to as “multadas”) who had been unlawfully smuggled into Peru and the U.S.;
• The trafficking of controlled substances, including a mixed substance called “tusi” that contains ketamine;
• And armed robberies, including carjackings.
• Keeping victims and potential victims in fear of TdA and its members and associates through threats and acts of violence.
• Promoting and enhancing TdA and the reputation and activities of its members and associates.
• Providing assistance to members and associates of TdA who committed crimes for and on behalf of TdA, such as lodging and interstate transportation for members and associates of TdA to flee prosecution.
• Protecting TdA and its members and associates from detection and prosecution by law enforcement authorities through acts of intimidation, threats, and violence against potential witnesses to crimes committed by members of TdA.
• Members and associates of TdA transported young women, again often referred to by members and associates of TdA as “multadas,” from Venezuela into Peru and the U.S. in exchange for debts that the young women would pay back to TdA by engaging in commercial sex work.  Members of TdA enforced compliance among these young women by, among other things:
• Threatening to kill the young women and their families,
  • Assaulting the young women,
• Shooting or killing the young women,
• And tracking down and kidnapping the young women who tried to flee.

Members of TdA also committed and conspired, attempted, and threatened to commit, acts of violence, including acts involving murder and assault, to protect and expand TdA’s criminal operations; resolve disputes within TdA; to retaliate against rival organizations, including Anti-Tren; and to maintain control over sex trafficking victims.  TdA members and associates also trafficked controlled substances, committed robberies, and obtained, possessed, trafficked, and used firearms and ammunition. 

On May 24, 2024, TdA members JAEN MARTINEZ, GONZALEZ CASTRO, MORILLO-GOMEZ, and IBARRA-MUJICA agreed to kill Claretha LaQuesha Daniels and Justin Lawless and to shoot Victim-3 in the vicinity of 2290 Davidson Avenue in the Bronx, New York.  JAEN MARTINEZ, GONZALEZ CASTRO, MORILLO-GOMEZ, and IBARRA-MUJICA then aided and abetted, caused, and otherwise facilitated the shooting of Daniels, Lawless, and Victim-3, which resulted in the deaths of Daniels and Lawless, and multiple non-fatal gunshot wounds to Victim-3.  Claretha LaQuesha Daniels was 44 years old, and Justin Lawless was 36 years old.

A chart containing the names, charges, and maximum penalties for the defendants is set forth below. 

The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. 

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), including the Field Offices in New York, Seattle, Denver, Chicago, and Hawaii, and the NYPD. He also thanked the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office, the Arapahoe County District Attorney’s Office in Colorado; the Aurora Police Department in Aurora, Colorado; Joint Task Force Vulcan; the New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force of the U.S. Marshals Service (“USMS”); the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Gang Unit and New York Human Intelligence Division; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s New York Enforcement and Removal Operations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”); and the New York City Crime Analysis Center at the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.

This case is part of Joint Task Force Vulcan (“JTFV”), which was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and now expanded at the direction of the Attorney General to target Tren de Aragua.  JTFV is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; Eastern and Western Districts of North Carolina; Western District of Virginia; Southern District of Florida; Eastern District of Texas; Western District of Oklahoma; Northern District of Indiana; District of Nevada; and District of Arizona; as well as the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, and the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and Criminal Division.  Additionally, the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), HSI, ATF, USMS, and the Bureau of Prisons are essential law enforcement partners with JTFV.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (“HSTF”) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion.  The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad.  Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement toward identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders.  In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.  HSTF New York comprises agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, and the IRS with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent Organizations and Crime Unit and Joint Task Force Vulcan.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jun Xiang, Kathryn Wheelock, Timothy Ly, Andrew K. Chan, and Jared Hoffman are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Ananya Sankar and Sandy Alcantara.

COUNT	CHARGE	DEFENDANTS	MAX. PENALTIES
One   (S3 Information)	Murder through the use of a firearm 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(j), and 2	KEIBER JAEN MARTINEZ,       a/k/a “Keybe,” SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,       a/k/a “Klei,”        a/k/a “Kley,” EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,       a/k/a “Jefferson,”        a/k/a “Efe Trebol,” KEINEYER IBARRA-MUJICA,        a/k/a “Keiner”	Life in prison
Two   (S3 Information)	Murder through the use of a firearm 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(j), and 2	KEIBER JAEN MARTINEZ,       a/k/a “Keybe,” SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,       a/k/a “Klei,”        a/k/a “Kley,” EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,       a/k/a “Jefferson,”        a/k/a “Efe Trebol,” KEINEYER IBARRA-MUJICA,        a/k/a “Keiner”	Life in prison
Three   (S3 Information)	Firearm use, carrying, and possession 18 U.S.C. §§  924(c)(1)(A)(i), and 2	KEIBER JAEN MARTINEZ,       a/k/a “Keybe,” SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,       a/k/a “Klei,”        a/k/a “Kley,” EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,       a/k/a “Jefferson,”        a/k/a “Efe Trebol,” KEINEYER IBARRA-MUJICA,        a/k/a “Keiner”	Life in prison Mandatory consecutive sentence of 5 years in prison
One   (S2 Indictment)	Racketeering conspiracy 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)	JARWIN VALERO-CALDERON,      a/k/a “La Fama”	20 years in prison
Six   (S2 Indictment)	Firearm use, carrying, and possession 18 U.S.C. §§  924(c)(1)(A)(i), and 2	JARWIN VALERO-CALDERON,      a/k/a “La Fama”

Attorney General James Secures Refunds for All New Yorkers Cheated by Nissan Dealerships’ Lease Overcharge Schemes

 

Nissan Will Pay Restitution and Change Practices to Prevent Future Overcharges

AG James Previously Recovered More Than $4.5 Million for Consumers and $1 Million in Penalties from Nissan Dealers for Lease Overcharge Schemes

New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced that the Nissan Motor Assurance Company (NMAC) will provide refunds for all New Yorkers who were unfairly overcharged for their leased vehicles. An investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) found that 15 Nissan dealerships added junk fees or falsified the price of leased vehicles that customers wanted to buy when their lease ended, forcing them to pay higher costs. As a result of OAG’s investigation, those 15 dealerships have already paid $1 million in penalties for overcharging on end-of-lease buyouts and refunded more than $4.5 million to over 3,100 consumers who paid more for their vehicles than they were promised. Following Attorney General James’ continued efforts, this new agreement with NMAC will provide refunds for even more New Yorkers, ensuring that anyone overcharged at any of the 45 New York Nissan dealerships that were not part of the initial settlements will also receive full restitution for any overcharges.

“Buying a car is a major financial decision, and New Yorkers should not have to worry about dealers using illegal junk fees to drive up the price,” said Attorney General James. “Nissan dealers across New York misled their customers with junk fees and other costs to cheat them out of their hard-earned money. After securing refunds for customers of 15 Nissan dealerships, my office is now making sure that every New Yorker who was defrauded by any Nissan dealership gets their money back. We will always take action to stop illegal schemes that deceive consumers.”

The OAG opened an investigation into Nissan dealerships after consumers reported they were being overcharged and given inaccurate receipts for end-of-lease buyouts during the COVID-19 pandemic. The investigation found that the consumers leased their Nissan cars under an agreement that gave them the option to purchase the vehicle for a set amount after the lease term ended. However, when they returned to the dealerships to buy their cars after their leases were up, the dealerships substantially overcharged them. The dealers added miscellaneous “dealership fees” or “administrative fees,” or inflated the vehicle’s price on the invoice given to the consumer.

Attorney General James previously secured settlements with 15 different Nissan dealerships for cheating customers with these illegal fees and inflated prices. The new settlement with NMAC will deliver restitution to all New Yorkers who were cheated by these lease overcharge schemes at all remaining Nissan dealerships in New York. In addition, consumers who took out loans financed by NMAC to buy their leased car at the wrongfully inflated price will be refunded the additional loan interest they paid. The settlement also requires NMAC to make changes to its lease terms and business processes to prevent these overcharges from occurring in the future.

New Yorkers entitled to restitution do not need to take any action to receive the payment. NMAC will pay restitution through mailed checks in the full amount of the overcharge on a rolling basis throughout 2026 as it audits all dealerships statewide.

Attorney General James’ previous settlements with Nissan dealerships have delivered more than $4.5 million in restitution to consumers and $1 million in penalties. In May 2025, Attorney General James secured more than $3.2 million from eight additional dealerships in New York City and Long Island. In June 2024, Attorney General James secured $350,000 from two Nissan dealers on Long Island. In March 2024, Attorney General James secured over $1.9 million from five Nissan dealers in New York City and Long Island.

Attorney General James asks any consumers who may have been affected by deceptive or fraudulent lease buyout practices to file a consumer complaint online.

BRONX MAN SENTENCED TO 17 YEARS IN PRISON FOR KILLING HIS BROTHER

Defendant Smashed Brother’s Head with Bowling Ball 

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that a Bronx man was sentenced to 17 years in prison after pleading guilty to Manslaughter for bludgeoning his brother to death. 

District Attorney Clark said, “This defendant in cold blood killed his own brother as he slept. This one senseless act has torn a family apart. With this guilty plea and sentence, justice has been served.” 

District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Jayson Dargan, 43, of Concourse Village East, Bronx, was today sentenced to 17 years in prison and five years post release supervision by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Alvin Yearwood. Dargan pleaded guilty to first-degree Manslaughter on May 8, 2026.

According to the facts brought out at trial, sometime between October 22, 2023 and November 1, 2023, Dargan put a bowling ball inside a black garbage bag and struck the victim, Timothy Dargan, his 44-year-old brother, on the head multiple times, causing his death.

District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detectives Roberto Vargas of the 44th Precinct and Jonathan Burke of the Bronx North Homicide Squad for their work in the investigation.

Ahead of the World Cup, Governor Hochul Launches $6 Million NY Kicks Initiative to Expand Access to Soccer Across New York

$5 Million Investment Fund Will Support Building Soccer Fields Across New York State

Additional $1 Million Available To NY Kicks Recipients To Make Soccer Programming More Affordable for Families

Advances Governor’s “Get Offline, Get Outside” Initiative, and Complements Programs and Events To Highlight FIFA World Cup 2026™

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the launch of NY Kicks: A World Cup Legacy Investment Fund through the 2026 Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) Initiative, aimed at building soccer fields in disadvantaged communities across each region of the state to strengthen neighborhoods and bring people together through a shared love of the game. First proposed in the Governor's 2026 State of the State and included in the FY27 Enacted Budget, the $5 million NY Kicks program will provide capital grants to support the creation, expansion and enhancement of community soccer fields for youth and players of all ages, capitalizing on the momentum of the FIFA World Cup 2026™. The FY27 Budget also includes $1 million in additional funding that will be administered by the State Office of Children and Family Services for a companion grant program for NY Kicks recipients to fund programming, equipment, training, and other operating costs that maximize use of these new facilities including uniforms, shin guards, soccer balls and coaches. The capital grant program will be administered by Empire State Development through the Consolidated Funding Application, with program guidelines and additional information .

“From Buffalo to Brentwood, every kid should have the opportunity to have fun, play and stay active. That’s why my ‘Get Offline, Get Outside’ initiative makes it a priority to give communities the resources they need to make it happen,” Governor Hochul said. “As kids across New York see the World Cup excitement unfold this summer, we are making it easier for them to play the beautiful game, with $6 million for communities to be able to build soccer infrastructure, drive down fees and allow all children to have safe and healthy activities for years to come.”

Eligible project costs for the $5 million NY Kicks capital grant program include site preparation, permanent soccer field infrastructure, utility infrastructure needed for field operation and paving. Applicants may include municipalities, public authorities and non-profit organizations. Awards will range from $75,000 to $200,000 and cover a maximum of 50 percent of eligible costs. Priority consideration will be given to projects located in severely and moderately distressed communities. Additional consideration will be given to applications based on project impact and community need, project readiness and feasibility and non-ESD co-investment leverage. A $1 million companion grant program to support operating expenses of NY Kicks recipients is being administered by New York State's Office of Children and Family Services and will launch in the future.

This program also complements the Governor's efforts to ensure that more New Yorkers can enjoy the World Cup. This month, Governor Hochul announced significant upgrades to the Official NYNJ Stadium Shuttle bus service for fans traveling to and from World Cup matches through reduced fares and 20 percent of bus tickets reserved for New York residents. The Governor also announced that free tickets are available for the first of two New York State flagship World Cup Watch Experiences, taking place at Stony Brook University on Long Island.

In April, Governor Hochul, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the FIFA World Cup 2026™ NYNJ Host Committee announced free fan events in all five boroughs of New York City. The Governor has also announced that 12 community-based projects statewide will receive grant funding as part of the New York State Community World Cup Grant Program, including free public viewings at Silo City in Buffalo.

These family-friendly events are part of New York State’s coordinated effort to maximize the 2026 World Cup's statewide and economic impact, bringing communities together to experience this historic global moment close to home while advancing long-term investments in youth soccer and community infrastructure.

Last month, Governor Hochul announced that event organizers can serve alcohol at off-site activations for the duration of the World Cup by applying for a World Cup One-Day Permit through the New York State Liquor Authority. Bars and restaurants will be able to use the World Cup One-Day Permit process to use contiguous outdoor space to host events during the World Cup as opposed to the current maximum of four days. In addition, the Governor is working with the legislature to authorize temporary expansion of permissible operating hours during the World Cup, allowing bars, restaurants and other eligible on-premises establishments to remain open whenever matches are broadcast live.

These collective efforts also build on the State’s broader strategy to maximize the economic, tourism and community benefits associated with hosting matches during the tournament. For more information, including how to sign up to be notified of future New York State World Cup announcements, visit the I LOVE NY website.

 

Mayor Mamdani Announces New York Knicks Postseason Has Generated $202 Million in Economic Activity, with Potential to More Than Double During NBA Finals

 

Each additional home playoff game could generate $90 million in economic activity  

  

Full postseason run could generate a cumulative $465 million in economic activity  

New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President & CEO Jeanny Pak today announced that the New York Knicks’ 2026 National Basketball Association (NBA) postseason run has generated an estimated $202 million in economic activity from home games played so far.   

  

As the Knicks return tonight to the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years, the postseason has the potential to generate a total of $465 million in economic activity if all possible home games in the Finals are played. This projection exceeds the estimated economic impact of the Knicks’ 2025 postseason run, when the team advanced only through the Eastern Conference finals.

 

“New Yorkers have been waiting 27 years for this moment,” said Mayor Mamdani. “I've watched this team from the nosebleeds, from my couch with my family and alongside neighbors across this city. Millions of New Yorkers have done the same from living rooms, restaurants, barbershops and street corners in every borough. When the Knicks win, New York comes alive. And as these numbers make clear, that energy supports small businesses, workers and neighborhoods that make New York what it is. Go Knicks.”

 

“For the first time in nearly three decades, the Knicks are back in the NBA Finals, energizing New Yorkers across the five boroughs, myself included,” said NYCEDC Interim President & CEO Jeanny Pak. “As New Yorkers gather at restaurants and local businesses on game nights to root for our city’s team, this historic run is a reminder of how deeply sports strengthen our community — and our economy.”  

  

With the NBA Finals beginning tonight and returning to Madison Square Garden on Monday, June 8, each additional Knicks home game is expected to generate an estimated $90 million in economic activity for the city, supporting local businesses and creating jobs and economic opportunity across the five boroughs. The Knicks could generate up to an additional $263 million in economic activity during the NBA Finals, on top of the $202 million already generated during the first three rounds of the postseason.  

  

The estimated $202 million generated during the first three rounds of this year’s postseason is lower than last year’s postseason economic impact because the Knicks played seven home games in 2026 rather than nine. The team swept the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals and Eastern Conference finals, respectively.   

  

NYCEDC’s analysis, compiled by its Economic Research & Policy (ERP) team, accounts for direct impacts from visitor spending, including tickets, concessions, merchandise, transportation and lodging for overnight visitors. The analysis also accounts for indirect and induced impacts from additional spending by arena operators and employees. The economic impact estimate of each game is based on average prices currently available for the NBA Finals.