Two Additional Former 10th Street Gang Members Charged with Attempted Murder

BUFFALO—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Angel Laboy and Luther Jones, both 19, of Buffalo, New York, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with two felony charges of attempted murder in aid of racketeering. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Tripi, who is handling the case, stated that according to the criminal complaint, Angel Laboy and Luther Jones are members of the 10th Street Gang. The complaint alleges that on March 20, 2012, the defendants attempted to kill two victims during a drive-by shooting on Trenton Street on the West Side of Buffalo.

The defendants are being detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for April 4, 2012.

U.S. Attorney Hochul stated that today’s announcement marks the latest developments in the government’s continuing investigation into gang-related violence in Western New York. Regarding ongoing prosecutions of the 10th Street Gang, in September 2009, a federal grand jury charged six 10th Street Gang members and associates with violent crimes in aid of racketeering and other charges. Since that time, three additional indictments have been returned charging an additional 32 10th Street Gang members and associates with a variety of federal criminal offenses. The arrests of Laboy and Jones bring to 40 the total number of 10th Street Gang members and associates charged to date. Fourteen of these defendants have been convicted thus far in connection with this investigation.

The criminal complaint is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Investigators of the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Christopher Cummings; the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commission Daniel Derenda; and special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher M. Piehota.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.