OGK Gang Member Sentencing

Seventh OGK Defendant Sentenced, Receives 85 Months Additional Incarceration in Federal Racketeering Case

United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian announced today that WINFIELD NICHOLSON, a/k/a Champ and Bamp, age 20, of Albany, New York, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Gary L. Sharpe to 85 months incarceration (NICHOLSON was facing a sentence of 97 months but received 12 months credit for time already served), and 5 years of supervised release following his release from incarceration. This sentence follows NICHOLSON’S plea of guilty to a racketeering conspiracy charge as set forth in Count 1 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.

NICHOLSON is the seventh OGK gang member to be sentenced. NICHOLSON previously had admitted that he was an OGK gang member and conspired with other persons to possess with intent to distribute and distribute crack cocaine within the Northern District of New York. NICHOLSON’S involvement in the narcotics conspiracy involved the possession with intent to distribute and distribution of more than 50 grams of cocaine base (crack cocaine). NICHOLSON previously also admitted to participating with other gang members in acts of violence and to possessing a firearm.

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; the New York State Police; the United States Marshal, 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.

CONTACT: William C. Pericak, Deputy Criminal Chief Carlos A. Moreno, Assistant United States Attorney (518) 431-0247