Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Grand Jury Indicts Drug Gang

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Grand Jury Indicts Drug Gang  : BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 20-  District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced that a grand jury has indicted 37 alleged drug dealers from rival ...

Grand Jury Indicts Drug Gang

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 20- District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced that a grand jury has indicted 37 alleged drug dealers from rival crews in the Highbridge section of the Bronx following an 11-month long investigation.

The grand jury returned a 124-count indictment charging the defendants with conspiracy to sell narcotics, criminal sale and possession of narcotics, attempted murder, assault, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal sale and possession of marijuana, and possession of ammunition. According to the indictment, the alleged conspiracy occurred between May 10, 2008 and May 10, 2013.

It is alleged that the defendants, belonged to either the ‘Woodycrime’ crew or ‘165th and Nelson’ crew, and “acted-in-concert” in engaging in more than 100 drug transactions of varying quantities, with undercover detectives during the course of the investigation.

The overwhelming majority of the illegal drug sales occurred on a one block stretch of 165th Street between Woodcrest and Nelson Avenues, where all of the defendants resided.

Luis “Lou” Pacheco, 21, was charged in connection with two separate shootings. In one incident, which occurred on November 9, 2011, Pacheco allegedly shot Nicholas Barbour in the back with a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol. Barbour was struck when Pacheco allegedly fired several shots at a moving minivan on West 165th Street and Woodycrest Avenue. The gunfire is believed to be tied to an unknown issue arising from an attempt to purchase marijuana. 

Pacheco was indicted for attempted murder in the second degree, assault in the first and second degrees, and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. He is facing a maximum sentence of up to 25 years imprisonment if convicted of the most serious offense, attempted murder. The other shooting for which Pacheco was indicted occurred on January 16, 2011 when he allegedly fired in the direction of a crowd of people striking Marvin Fortuna in the hand. That shooting occurred on East 161st Street and Gerard Avenue during an altercation outside a coffee shop. Pacheco was charged with assault in the third degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, and Reckless Endangerment in the first degree. The most serious offense, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree is punishable by a maximum sentence of up to fifteen years imprisonment if convicted.

Pacheco, an alleged principal player in the ‘Woodycrime’ crew, was arraigned before Acting State Supreme Court Justice Steven Barrett and was ordered held without bail. Another alleged leader of the ‘Woodcrime’ crew Christian Caban, 27, was also remanded while bail for a third alleged principal player, Marvin Gamoneda, 27, was set at $350,000 bond or $250,000 cash.

Of the 37 defendants named in the indictment, 25 have been taken into custody. More arrests are expected and additional charges are expected to be filed in this continuing investigation as a result of the seizure of illegal weapons and narcotics when investigators executed arrest and search warrants pursuant to this indictment. The most serious conspiracy charge against the defendants, conspiracy in the third degree, is punishable by a maximum sentence of up to seven years imprisonment if convicted. The most serious drug charge, criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, is punishable by a maximum sentence of up to nine years imprisonment on each count, if convicted, depending on their prior criminal records.

The charges in the indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

District Attorney Johnson acknowledged the following for their efforts in building this case: the NYPD Bronx Narcotics Division’s Operation Good Neighbor; the 44th Precinct Detective Squad; and the 44th Precinct Anti-Crime Patrol Unit.

Assistant District Attorney Terry Gensler, of the Gangs / Major Case Bureau is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Edward Talty, Chief of the Gangs / Major Case Bureau.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Ellen Barkin Joins Bronx Walk of Fame

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Ellen Barkin Joins Bronx Walk of Fame: Ellen Barkin Joins Bronx Walk of Fame By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 20- Although the rain on Sunday afternoon postponed the baseball...

Ellen Barkin Joins Bronx Walk of Fame

Ellen Barkin Joins Bronx Walk of Fame

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 20- Although the rain on Sunday afternoon postponed the baseball game between the Yankees and Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium, it did not dampen enthusiasm nor cancel the festivities several blocks east on the Grand Concourse, where the annual Bronx Walk of Fame ceremony was held. Three new Bronx idols were honored by having their names added to street signs posted along the Grand Concourse in the 161^st Street area.

Each of the three follows other notable sons and daughters of the Bronx whose lives and careers added prestige to the borough. Miguel Angel Amadeo, a distinguished Latino musician and composer, is the senior of the three at 79 years of age. Amadeo was born in Puerto Rico, but has lived in the Bronx since 1948.

His record shop plus, Casa Amadeo, located at 786 Prospect Avenue, is a historical landmark. Originally opened by Victoria Hernandez, sister of the legendary Puerto Rican composer Rafael Hernandez, the store was the first record shop owned by a Puerto Rican in New York.

Amadeo was the composer of many musical numbers during his lengthy musical career. To the audience at the ceremony, he said, “What brought me here today was “Give it to Me When I’m Alive” by El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico. He sang the popular tune and was joined by many in the audience.

The composer spoke happily of the future, “I’m 79 years old and I don’t intend to retire. I’ve been in the music business 61 years. I hope in the future I will be doing what I’m doing now.”

Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. also introduced one of his predecessors, Robert Abrams. The long-time and respected public official was the Bronx BP from 1970-9. Prior to holding the borough-wide office, Abrams represented a Bronx district in the New York State Assembly from 1966-9.

After his decade as Bronx BP, Abrams was elected to the statewide office of New York State Attorney General in 1979. He retained that office until retiring in 1993. Governor David Patterson named the Justice Building in Albany in honor of Abrams in 2009. After his retirement from elective office, he joined the law firm of Strook, Strook and Lavan.

The only female and the youngest of the trio is famed actress Ellen Barkin. She was born to a working class couple in the mid-1950’s. Aware of her future career early in life, Barkin graduated from the High School of Performing Arts. She majored in history and drama at Hunter College. She went the rounds of auditions after attending Actor’s Studio.

Her acting ability was recognized on stage and screen. She earned a Tony Award for her first Broadway appearance, “The Normal Heart” in 2011. She was a nominee and award winner for motion pictures and TV shows on numerous occasions.

Diaz introduced her as a world famous ambassador for the Bronx, “What’s special for me is when you look at her Twitter page [followed by nearly 150,000] it says Bronx girl. Everywhere she goes in the world she has Bronx on her lips.”

Speaking in the Bronx Supreme Court, where the introductory section of the ceremony was held, the experienced actress drew a big laugh when she said, “The last time I was in this building was when I bailed my grandmother out after she was arrested for running an illegal poker game.” She closed with heart-felt words regarding her place of birth, “I will be a Bronx girl until the day I die.”

Everyone then went outside in the rain to watch the three honorees unveil their street signs. All three appeared excited, extremely happy and in very good humor to be recognized in the Bronx.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Bronx Week Parade, Music Festival

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Bronx Week Parade, Music Festival: BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 16- It may have rained, enough to cancel the Yankee game, but it didn't rain hard enough to damper the s...

Bronx Week Parade, Music Festival

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 16- It may have rained, enough to cancel the Yankee game, but it didn't rain hard enough to damper the spirits enough to cancel the Bronx Week Parade, Food and Music Festival today on Mosholu Parkway. 

While some people and a few elected officials stayed away in drier places, there still were over 1,000 proud Bronxites who marched in the Bronx Week Parade on Mosholu Parkway, and then enjoyed the Food and Music Festival. The Parade was co-hosted by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and NY 1 Bronx reporter Dean Meminger.

The Bronx Week Parade started off with the NYPD and NYFD, then came the marchers as the three Bronx Walk of Fame honorees arrived at the viewing stand. Famous actress Ellen Barkin, former NY State Attorney General and Bronx BP Robert Abrams, and musician Miguel Angel Amadeo then went onto the stage to watch the rest of the Bronx Week Parade.  

As was the case in last years, parade the theme again this year was all about the children and their future. 

Parade highlights - The "Dynamic Duo" of BP Diaz and NY 1 reporter Dean Meminger, The Bronx Young Democrats, The fact that this event started under then Bronx BP Robert Abrams as "Bronx Day", Councilman Joel Rivera's Chief of staff marching four different times in the parade as was noted by BP Diaz, and of course the hundreds of children marching and performing.

Yanks rained out

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 19- For the first time during the 2013 season, a game at Yankee Stadium was postponed because of inclement weather. An early morning rain that was expected to continue throughout the day caused the postponement of the final game of the current Yankees homestand.

The rare pitching matchup scheduled for Sunday afternoon appeared fully capable of providing excitement for the attending fans. C.C. Sabathia (A.L.-2007) and R.A. Dickey(N.L.-2012), would have been the fifth combo of starting former Cy Young Award winners in a contest at the current Yankee Stadium Sabathia faced a former Cy Young recipient, “King” Felix Hernandez of the Mariners in his last start five days ago. Dickey would have been the 11th Cy Young Award winner to start against Sabathia.

The Blue Jays, losers of their last nine games at Yankee Stadium, were glad to be returning home to Toronto. They will face Tampa on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Yankees will travel to Baltimore for a three game series that will begin on Monday night. Sabathia will be in the starting role on Monday.

A make-up date for the washed-out contest was not announced, but will most likely occur in the late summer as the Blue Jays return to the Bronx for a three game set on August 20-22.