United States Drug Enforcement Administration

NEW YORK  -  James J. Hunt, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York  Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, James P. O’Neill, the Commissioner of the Police Department for the City of New York, and George P. Beach II, the Superintendent of the New York State Police, announced the unsealing today of a superseding indictment charging 10 members and associates of Manhattan robbery crews with racketeering, narcotics, robbery, burglary, and firearms offenses.  Six of the charged defendants are members of a street gang known as the 200, operating in and around northern Manhattan.  One of those defendants is also charged with the 2014 murder of Orlando Rivera in furtherance of the 200 gang.

A total of five defendants were taken into custody today; one other defendant was already in federal custody.  Six of the 10 defendants will be presented and arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin N. Fox later today.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain.   

“DEA’s investigations have a knack for exposing violent crime; evident in our arrests of MS-13 members, Trinitarios, Sinaloa Cartel members and today’s 200 Crew,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge James Hunt.  “The 200 Crew’s alleged reign of terror in Washington Heights is responsible for a rap sheet of crimes ranging from robbery to racketeering and murder.  I commend the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force REDRUM unit and U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of New York on today’s arrests.”  

“As alleged in the indictment, the defendants wreaked havoc on their northern Manhattan neighborhood for years through a litany of crimes that harmed local businesses, injured robbery victims, and killed an innocent man," said Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman.  "Thanks to the extraordinary work of the DEA, the NYPD, and the State Police, the defendants will now face justice for their crimes.” 

“Dismantling violent street gangs and ending the criminal activities that support them will always be a priority for the NYPD and our law enforcement partners," said NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill    "I thank the detectives, special agents, and others involved in this important case, and commend the DEA and the Southern District for sharing our vision of a New York City in which all those we serve become more safe each year, and feel more safe in every neighborhood, as well.”

“These charges are a direct result of the hard work and cooperation among law enforcement at all levels and I applaud all of our partners for their dedication to fighting organized crime," said NYPD Superintendent Gerorge P. Beach II. "The disruption of this alleged illegal operation serves as a strong reminder that gang and related activities such as racketeering, drug trafficking, burglary, and the violence that is perpetuated by such crimes, will not be tolerated.”

As alleged in the superseding indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court and in other court papers[1]:

From 2014 through September 2018, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, Milton Chardon, a/k/a “Blanquito,” Christian Pabon, a/k/a “Banga,” Bryan Castillo, aka “True,” George Citronelle, aka “CY,” aka “BY,” Jeremy Estevez, aka “Jerm Racks,” and Yasmil Fertides, aka “Little Half,” were all members and associates of the 200 street gang. In order to fund the gang, protect its territory, and promote its standing, members of the 200 engaged in, among other things, narcotics trafficking, robbery, and other acts of violence, including murder.  200 members sold heroin, cocaine, marijuana, and oxycontin in the gang’s territory, possessed shared firearms, and engaged in shootings as part of their gang membership. 

In particular, on Oct. 2, 2014, Pabon murdered Orlando Rivera in the vicinity of 1653 Saint Nicholas Avenue in Manhattan, in order to maintain and increase his status in the 200 gang.  Additionally, on Dec.17, 2015, Chardon and Fertides shot at and attempted to kill an individual in the vicinity of the intersection of Sickles Street and Sherman Avenue in Manhattan, and on Nov. 21, 2016, Citronelle shot at victims of a robbery he carried out with other 200 members and associates in the vicinity of the intersection of Academy Street and Nagle Avenue in Manhattan.

Members of the 200 gang also participated with others in a conspiracy to commit robberies, a conspiracy to commit pharmacy burglaries, and a conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, all between 2011 and 2018.  Chardon and Fertides participated in these conspiracies with Samantha Batista, Noel Martinez, aka “Crazy,” Domingo Tolentino, aka “Juvi,” and Juan Calderon, aka “Priva.”  Batista, Martinez, and Tolentino robbed a marijuana dealer on or about Nov. 8, 2016, at 510 West 188th Street in Manhattan, during which a firearm was discharged.  The pharmacies that the crew targeted included a pharmacy in the vicinity of 1985 University Avenue in the Bronx, which Chardon and Calderon targeted on Oct. 8, 2016; a pharmacy in the vicinity of 1985 University Avenue in the Bronx, which Fertides and Calderon targeted on June 15, 2017; and a pharmacy in the vicinity of 212 Nagle Avenue in Manhattan, which Chardon, Tolentino, and Calderon targeted on Oct.10, 2016.

Defendants Chardon, Castillo, Citronelle, Martinez, and Calderon were arrested in New York yesterday and today.  They will be arraigned later this afternoon in Manhattan federal court.  Fertides will be arraigned Sept. 21, 2018, before Judge Swain.

Charts containing the names, charges, and maximum and minimum penalties for the defendants are 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. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA’s New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, comprising agents and officers of the DEA, NYPD, and NYSP, and the Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.  Mr. Berman also thanked the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for its assistance in the investigation.

The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Hagan Scotten, Margaret Graham, Maurene Comey, and Karin Portlock are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.       

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[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment constitutes only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.