Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani released the following statement on Int. 1-B and Int. 175-B:
New York City will always uphold both the right to prayer and the right to protest. These two fundamental freedoms help define this city and the people who call it home.
Last month, the City Council passed two bills related to these rights, known as buffer zone bills. Today, I am letting one of them go into effect and vetoing the other.
Today, New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin issued the following statement after Mayor Mamdani’s veto of Introduction 175-B:
“Ensuring students can enter and exit their schools without fear of harassment or intimidation should not be controversial. This bill simply requires the NYPD to clearly outline how it will ensure safe access when there are threats of obstruction or physical injury, while fully protecting First Amendment rights.”
An indictment was unsealed today in the Western District of Texas charging Jafar Tafakori, 57, an Iranian national, for his role in coordinating the smuggling of illegal aliens into the United States. Tafakori was arrested in Colombia at the request of the United States.
According to the indictment, from at least Dec. 1, 2022, through on or about May 15, 2024, Tafakori illegally brought large numbers of aliens, primarily Iranian nationals, into the United States. In exchange for payment, Tafakori coordinated with others to provide shelter, transportation, and occasionally airline tickets for the aliens to travel through South and Central America and Mexico. Tafakori charged some aliens as much as $30,000 for his services. Once at the U.S./Mexico border, the aliens were directed to illegally enter the United States.
“Securing our borders and stopping alien smuggling is a top priority for the Department of Justice,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “This defendant allegedly transported many illegal aliens into the United States, exploiting our nation’s immigration laws and depriving our immigration officials the ability to vet and review the individuals entering our communities. Thanks to the hard work of our prosecutors and investigative partners, this individual was arrested in Colombia and will be brought to justice in the United States for his crimes.”
“Jafar Tafakori allegedly smuggled Iranian nationals illegally into the United States for 18 months,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Based on this indictment, Colombian authorities acted fast and arrested Tafakori, and when he is extradited, he will face justice in the United States. Those who endanger our communities by participating in human smuggling across our borders will be apprehended regardless of if they live in the United States or abroad.”
“Tafakori’s actions demonstrate the inherent dangers of an open-border policy,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “The enemy was at the gate, and the gate was left wide open. Tafakori’s indictment and arrest, which was facilitated by members of the Homeland Security Task Force, reinforce this administration’s commitment to securing our borders, protecting Americans, and diligently prosecuting those who took advantage of derelict open-border policies.”
“Homeland Security Investigations remains steadfast in its pursuit of transnational criminal organizations that endanger national security by smuggling illegal aliens from regions associated with criminal activity,” said acting Special Agent in Charge John A. Pasciucco, HSI San Antonio. “HSI’s ongoing investigations focus on identifying, disrupting, and dismantling these networks to ensure those who threaten the safety of our communities are brought to justice. Our commitment to protecting the homeland is unwavering, and we will continue to use all available resources to prevent individuals with dangerous intentions from exploiting our borders.”
“The arrest of this Iranian national involved in smuggling large numbers of individuals — primarily fellow Iranian citizens — into the United States underscores the global reach and threat of human smuggling networks,” said Assistant Director Ricardo Mayoral of HSI International Operations. “This outcome, made possible through close coordination between HSI San Antonio, HSI Bogotá, and our Colombian partners, reflects HSI’s unwavering commitment to protecting our borders and disrupting transnational criminal activity.”
Tafakori is charged with one count of conspiracy to bring an alien to the United States and five counts of bringing an alien to the United States for financial gain. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count. If convicted of three or more counts of illegally bringing an alien to the United States for financial gain, Tafakori faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum penalty of fifteen years.
Colombian authorities issued a warrant and arrested Takafori on April 23 in Pereira, Colombia, pursuant to a request from the United States.
HSI San Antonio conducted the investigation along with assistance from the HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center, HSI Bogotá, and United States Border Patrol’s Del Rio Sector Intelligence Unit. Significant assistance was provided by HSI Bogota’s Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit from the Colombian National Police’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (TCIU-DIJIN) and the Colombian Attorney General’s Office.
Trial Attorney Bethany Allen of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions section, on detail from the Office of International Affairs, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian Rosales for the Western District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
The Justice Department’s Office of the Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, Office of International Affairs, and Interpol Washington provided significant assistance in this matter. The Justice Department thanks its Colombian law enforcement partners for their expeditious enforcement operation.
The investigation and indictment were supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant United States Attorney-detailees from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 455 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 400 U.S. convictions; and more than 350 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force 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 U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes these organizations commit, 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.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, and United States Marshal for the Southern District of New York, Ricky J. Patel, announced the unsealing of a seven-count Indictment charging two individuals, ALEJANDRO COLON, a/k/a “Ale,” and OSCAR OLIVENCIA, a/k/a “Jon-O,” a/k/a “Young O,” with federal crimes, including racketeering conspiracy, attempted murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, attempted assault with a dangerous weapon, and firearms offenses. The defendants are charged for their roles in the “A-Town” set of the Trinitarios street gang and associated acts of violence, including a shooting on February 7, 2023, in the Bronx where COLON and OLIVENCIA, acting together, shot at multiple people, resulting in gunshot wounds to two victims. In a coordinated operation. Both defendants will be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry J. Ricardo. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian.
“As alleged, Oscar Olivencia and Alejandro Colon were members of the A-Town Trinitarios who shot at three individuals outside a restaurant in the Bronx, seriously injuring two of them,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Gang violence is a threat to the safety and security of our neighborhoods, and together with our law enforcement partners, the women and men of this Office will continue to work relentlessly to give New Yorkers what they want and deserve: safe neighborhoods free from the terror of gun violence.”
“These alleged members of the ‘A-Town’ Trinitarios crew used gun violence to further their illicit operations, shooting two people and putting many more Tremont residents at risk,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “Today’s indictment underscores the NYPD’s focus on taking down gangs, removing guns, and keeping our communities safe. I thank our NYPD detectives for their hard work on this case and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for its partnership in holding these criminals accountable.”
“The alleged actions committed by these two brazen defendants endangered our communities and required precision in our law enforcement operations to safely take them off of our streets to face justice,” said U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of New York, Ricky J. Patel. “The United States Marshals Service and our law enforcement partners’ unwavering commitment to ensure neighborhoods are safe made that a reality.”
As alleged in the Indictment and other documents filed in federal court and based on statements made in public court proceedings:[1]
“A-Town” is a criminal organization based in the Tremont neighborhood of the Bronx and affiliated with the Trinitarios. Since at least 2018, its members and associates have engaged in narcotics trafficking, the use of firearms, and numerous acts of violence against rival gang members. A-Town members have also participated in various fraudulent schemes, including stealing checks from mailboxes and altering and cashing them.
On or about February 7, 2023, COLON and OLIVENCIA confronted an individual (“Victim-1”) outside a Bronx restaurant over money Victim-1 owed OLIVENCIA from the sale of stolen checks. As the encounter escalated, COLON brandished a firearm, and OLIVENCIA drew his own firearm and fired two shots—one striking a nearby bystander (“Victim-2”) and the other striking Victim-1. As COLON and OLIVENCIA fled, another individual (“Victim-3”) produced a firearm and fired at them. COLON returned fire in Victim-3’s direction.
COLON brandishing firearm
Firearms recovered
OLIVENCIA firing his firearm into the crowd
A chart containing the names, charges, and minimum and maximum penalties for the defendants is set forth below.
The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative efforts of the NYPD and thanked the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the NYPD Intelligence Division’s Intelligence Analysis Unit for their assistance.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent Organizations and Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Ly and Dominic A. Gentile are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges in the Indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Charge | Defendants | Minimum and Maximum Penalties |
Count One Racketeering Conspiracy 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)
| ALEJANDRO COLON OSCAR OLIVENCIA | Maximum: 20 years in prison |
Count Two Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Attempted Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering 18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(3) and (a)(6), and 2 | ALEJANDRO COLON OSCAR OLIVENCIA | Maximum: 20 years in prison |
Count Three Firearms Offense 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), and (iii), and 2
| ALEJANDRO COLON OSCAR OLIVENCIA | Maximum: Life in prison Minimum: 10 years in prison, which must be consecutive to any other term imposed |
Count Four Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering 18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(3) and 2
| ALEJANDRO COLON OSCAR OLIVENCIA | Maximum: 20 years in prison |
Count Five Firearms Offense 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), and (iii), and 2
| ALEJANDRO COLON OSCAR OLIVENCIA | Maximum: Life in prison Minimum: 10 years in prison, which must be consecutive to any other term imposed |
Count Six Attempted Murder, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, and Attempted Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering 18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(3), (a)(5), (a)(6), and 2 | ALEJANDRO COLON OSCAR OLIVENCIA | Maximum: 20 years in prison |
Count Seven Firearms Offense 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), and (iii), and 2 | ALEJANDRO COLON OSCAR OLIVENCIA | Maximum: Life in prison Minimum: 10 years in prison, which must be consecutive to any other term imposed |
