Gang Member Sentenced To Life In Prison For His Role In Murder Of Mother On Bronx Playground

Geoffrey S. Berman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that STIVEN SIRI-REYNOSO was sentenced today to life plus five years in prison for his role in the June 11, 2016, murder of Jessica White.  Ms. White, 28, was killed by a stray bullet while sitting next to her mother and watching her three young children play in the playground of the John Adams Houses in the Bronx, New York.  SIRI-REYNOSO gave the order for that shooting, which targeted a gang rival.  On July 30, 2018, SIRI-REYNOSO was convicted of conspiring to commit racketeering, conspiring to sell narcotics, murder in aid of racketeering, and murder through the use of a firearm after an eight-day trial before Chief U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “On June 11, 2016, Jessica White was murdered in a playground before her mother and her children, the victim of horrific and senseless gang violence.  Stiven Siri-Reynoso ordered that shooting and was responsible for Jessica’s death.  As a result, he will now spend the rest of his life in a federal prison.  We extend our deepest condolences to the members of Jessica’s family, who have experienced tragedy beyond words.  We thank our partners at the FBI and NYPD, who worked tirelessly to achieve this measure of justice for Jessica and her family.  And we affirm our continued efforts to rid our neighborhoods of intolerable gang violence.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment and the evidence at trial:

On June 11, 2016, Jessica White was struck and killed by a stray bullet while sitting on a bench next to her mother and watching her three children play on a playground at the John Adams Houses, where her mother lived.  SIRI-REYNOSO was a member of the “Dominicans Don’t Play” or “DDP” street gang.  The DDP gang was engaged in a dispute between with the rival Trinitarios street gang involving, among other things, SIRI-REYNOSO’s drug sales near the John Adams Houses.

On the night of June 11, 2016, Trinitarios members tried to attack SIRI-REYNOSO.  In retaliation, SIRI-REYNOSO sent another individual to shoot at the Trinitarios.  SIRI-REYNOSO ensured the shooter had a gun and a mask, and arranged for other gang members to be waiting in a getaway car nearby.  As the shooter began firing, Jessica White got up and called out for her children.  She was struck by one of the bullets and killed.    

SIRI-REYNOSO also committed other crimes in connection with his membership in the DDPs, including drug selling and robbery.

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In addition to the prison term, SIRI-REYNOSO, 26, of the Bronx, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City Police Department.

The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Drew Skinner, Allison Nichols, and Frank Balsamello are in charge of the prosecution.