United States Drug Enforcement Administration

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Luis Taveras was sentenced by United States District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto to 17 years’ imprisonment for attempting to commit obstruction-of-justice murder. Taveras pleaded guilty to the charge in January 2020.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Ricky J. Patel, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York; Tim Foley, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division; Keechant L. Sewell, Commissioner, New York City Police Department; and Kevin P. Bruen, Superintendent, New York State Police, announced the sentence.

“The defendant planned the cold-blooded execution of a witness he believed to be cooperating with U.S. law enforcement, and watched as the witness and members of his family, including a 5-year-old, were shot and wounded. By his callous disregard for human life and brazen contempt for the law, Taveras has earned the lengthy prison term imposed today,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “I commend and thank the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force for their tireless efforts to bring the defendant to justice for this horrific crime.”

“Taveras tried to silence a potential witness to eliminate the chances of their cooperation with U.S. law enforcement. In a daring public attempt, Taveras tried to gun down the individual in a crowded Colombian restaurant, wounding three victims including a 5-year-old boy,” stated HSI Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Patel. “This callous act of extreme violence and blatant disregard for human life resulted in today’s stiff sentence to land Taveras in federal prison for 17 years. HSI New York, working with our law enforcement partners will continue to tirelessly pursue the most dangerous offenders and prosecute those who seek to obstruct justice, both domestically and on foreign soil.”

“Luis Taveras’ actions were nothing less than cold-blooded and this sentence cements the gravity of his crimes. The relentless nature of law enforcement has resulted in bringing Taveras to justice to face the consequences of his actions. I applaud the U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of New York, the New York City Police Department, the New York State Police, and Homeland Security Investigations for their diligent work and continued collaboration with the DEA New York Drug Enforcement Task Force,” stated DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Foley.

“A measure of justice was meted out today against Luis Taveras, whose admitted crimes not only victimized a family, including an innocent child, but sought to upend the sanctity of our collective law enforcement system,” stated NYPD Commissioner Sewell. “His sentencing reflects the commitment of our NYPD investigators and partners, including in the United States Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York, to never relent in our work to eradicate drug traffickers and the harm they propel at home and abroad.”

“This is a clear-cut case in which this suspect attempted to take out a witness who had information regarding his criminal activity, while completely disregarding the safety of innocent family members, including a young child. I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their continued partnership, and the US Attorney for ensuring that the defendant is held fully accountable for his actions,” stated NYSP Superintendent Bruen,

As detailed in court filings and the defendant’s statements at his guilty plea proceeding, Taveras arranged for the murder of an individual whom he knew from prior narcotics transactions and believed to be cooperating with U.S. law enforcement. On June 21, 2016, Tavares entered a restaurant in Cali, Colombia, and sat down at a table with the victim. Shortly thereafter, Taveras stood up, walked to the back of the restaurant, and watched as a co-conspirator entered the restaurant and fired eight shots – wounding the victim in the shoulder and arm, and also wounding two family members of the victim, including a five-year-old child. Taveras and his co-conspirator then fled. The three victims survived their wounds.

Taveras was arrested in February 2019 by federal law enforcement agents in Miami. During his guilty plea proceeding, Tavares admitted that he identified the intended target to his co-conspirator, and that he wanted to prevent that individual from providing information to U.S. law enforcement.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorney Erin Reid is in charge of the prosecution.

The Defendant:

LUIS TAVERAS

Age: 33

Miami, Florida

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 19-CR-180 (S-2) (KAM)