Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the
Southern District of New York, announced that WILLIAM BRACY, a/k/a “Rel,” was
sentenced yesterday to a prison term of 396 months for his crimes as a member
of the “Young Gunnaz” or “YGz” gang, including the April 16, 2012, murder of
Moises Lora, a/k/a “Noah,” 16, during which BRACY and several other YGz gang
members stomped Lora to death in a courtyard in the Melrose housing projects in
the Bronx. BRACY was sentenced in
Manhattan federal court by United States District Judge Valerie E. Caproni,
before whom he previously pled guilty.
For purposes of the sentencing, Judge Caproni found, following an evidentiary
hearing held yesterday, that BRACY was one of the YGz members who kicked Lora
while he lay on the pavement during the attack that resulted in Lora’s death.
Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “William
Bracy and his fellow gang members stomped 90-pound, 16-year-old Moises Lora to
death a few yards from a playground in a South Bronx housing complex. While we
cannot bring Moises Lora back, we hope that his family finds justice, and a
measure of solace, in today’s sentence. Together with our law enforcement
partners, we will continue to aggressively prosecute all those who inflict this
deadly violence on our communities.”
According to the charging and other documents filed in the
case, as well as the evidence presented at BRACY’s presentencing hearing and
statements made during BRACY’s guilty plea, sentencing proceedings, and other
court proceedings in this case:
BRACY was a member of the Bronx-based street gang known as
the YGz. From at least 2005 to 2016,
members and associates of the YGz enriched themselves by committing robberies
and by selling drugs, such as crack cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, and
committing acts of violence, including the murder of rival gang members, rival
drug traffickers, and innocent bystanders.
As part of his involvement in the YGz gang, BRACY participated in
numerous acts of violence, as well as crack cocaine distribution, in the South
Bronx.
For example, as part of his involvement in the YGz gang,
BRACY and several other YGz gang members murdered Moises Lora, a member of a
rival gang, on April 16, 2012, in the South Bronx. On the date of the murder, a
group of YGz members, including BRACY, got drunk, and began arguing among
themselves about who had done the most violence for the YGz. This group of YGz
members went to the territory of a rival gang in the Melrose housing projects
to settle their dispute. Upon arriving at the Melrose projects, BRACY and other
members of the YGz saw Lora and attacked him. During the attack, Lora’s skull
was fractured in several places. BRACY
and the group left Lora to die. Following the stomping, BRACY and several of
his confederates bragged to fellow YGz members about what they had done.
* * *
BRACY, 23, of the Bronx, is the fourth defendant to be
sentenced this year by Judge Caproni for participation in a YGz-related
murder. Judge Caproni sentenced BRACY’s
co-defendant Anthony Scott, a/k/a “Tyson,” to 23 years in prison primarily for
Scott’s role in shooting and killing Darrel Ledgister on June 27, 2009, in the
South Bronx during an attempted robbery.
Judge Caproni sentenced BRACY’s co-defendant Paul Gilbert, a/k/a “2Fly
Tay,” to more than 30 years in prison primarily for Gilbert’s role in the
murder of Cody Dubose on September 27, 2014, near the Taft Houses in Manhattan
during an attempted robbery. Finally,
Judge Caproni sentenced BRACY’s co-defendant Terrance Williams, a/k/a “TA,” to
more than 33 years in prison primarily for Williams’s role in the murder of
Curtis Smith on July 3, 2011, near the Jackson housing projects in the South
Bronx.
Mr. Kim praised the outstanding work of the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration,
and the New York City Police Department in the investigation of this case. He also thanked the Bronx County District
Attorney’s Office for their support in this case.
This case is being handled by this Office’s Violent and
Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Samson Enzer, Gina M.
Castellano, and Andrew C. Adams are in charge of the prosecution.
Posts
