Manhattan Man Charged With 1995 Double Murder

Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and James P. O’Neill, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging RAMON SOLLA, a/k/a “Ray,” a/k/a “RB,” with the March 3, 1995, murders of Ricky Santiago and Christopher Torro,  a/k/a “Christopher Rossy,” in New York, New York.  SOLLA was arrested today and will be presented this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron.  This case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “For more than two decades, the families of Ricky Santiago and Christopher Torro have been waiting for justice.  Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the FBI and the NYPD, Ramon Solla will now face justice for his alleged role in the brutal murder of two teenage boys.  We hope today’s arrest brings some measure of comfort to the victims’ families.”

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. said:  “Decades have gone by since these young boys were murdered, but the detectives and agents working the case never gave up on finding the killer who pulled the trigger.  The fact that we have an alleged suspect in handcuffs today is a testament to their dedication, hard work, and our strong partnerships with the NYPD through the FBI New York Metro Safe Streets Task Force and working with the NYPD Cold Case Squad.  Time doesn’t wear away the guilt of anyone who takes a human life, and it doesn’t erode our determination to find those responsible.”

NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill said:  “The ability of investigators to bring justice for these two victims and provide a sense of closure to their loved ones is paramount.  The identification and arrest of the suspect in this case would not have been possible without the collaboration between the NYPD and our law-enforcement partners.  I thank the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the FBI, and the hardworking members of the NYPD, who efforts resulted in this arrest.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court[1]:

On March 3, 1995, on the rooftop of 250 East 105th Street in New York, New York, SOLLA shot and killed both Ricky Santiago, 17, and Christopher Torro, 17.  SOLLA committed both murders in furtherance of a conspiracy to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin.

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SOLLA, 45, of New York, New York, is charged with two counts of using a firearm to commit murder, each of which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison or death, and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, and with two counts of murder in furtherance of a drug crime, each of which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison or death, and a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison.  The maximum and minimum sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.         

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the NYPD.

The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit.  Assistant United States Attorneys Maurene Comey and Allison Nichols are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.