Two Plead Guilty in Racketeering Conspiracy Related to Gang Activity

United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian announced today that MUNDHIR CONNOR, a/k/a Major, a/k/a Montana, age 31, and ERIC FOSTER, a/k/a E-Nasty, age 31, both from Albany, New York, pled guilty in United States District Court, Albany, New York, before the Honorable Gary L. Sharpe, United States District Judge. CONNOR and FOSTER both pled guilty to being members of a narcotics conspiracy as set forth in Count two of a federal indictment relating to the criminal activities of the ORIGINAL GANGSTER KILLERS (OGK) or “Downtown” gang, which operated within the City of Albany.

In their plea agreements, CONNOR the 21st defendant to plead guilty, and FOSTER, the 22nd defendant to plead guilty, both admitted that beginning some time in 2000, and continuing to October 23, 2009, they were members of a conspiracy that operated within and near the downtown section of the City of Albany, New York, and routinely engaged in criminal activities that included crack cocaine and marijuana trafficking. According to the plea agreement and Indictment, CONNOR and FOSTER were members of a conspiracy that distributed crack cocaine associated with members of the OGK gang or in OGK gang territory.

Sentencing is scheduled for CONNOR and FOSTER for April 21, 2011. CONNOR faces a maximum of Life imprisonment, a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, supervised release of at least eight years, and a fine up to $4,000,000. FOSTER faces a maximum of life imprisonment, a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 20 years, supervised release of at least 10 years, and a fine up to $8,000,000.

This prosecution resulted from a joint investigation conducted by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Albany Field Division; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration, Albany District Office; the City of Albany Police Department; the Albany County Sheriff’s Department; the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Department; the New York State Department of Corrections; the New York State Division of Parole; and the New York State Police, with the assistance of the United States Marshal’s Service, Northern District of New York, Albany Office; the Albany County District Attorney’s Office; the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office; the Town of Guilderland Police Department; the Town of Bethlehem Police Department; and the City of Cohoes Police Department.