10th Street Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Charges

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Hiram Lopez, 24, of Buffalo, New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Arcara, to a felony charge of Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy. The charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Tripi, who is handling the case, stated that as part of his plea, the defendant admitted to being a member of the 10th Street Gang, which engaged in such racketeering activities as narcotics trafficking and acts of violence. The defendant specifically acknowledged that as a part of his involvement in the gang, Lopez and other associates sold cocaine, crack cocaine, and other controlled substances on the west side of Buffalo.

In September, 2010, authorities arrested the defendant and 26 other members and associates of the 10th Street Gang. In addition to narcotics trafficking, various defendants were accused of committing several murders and attempted murders and robbery. Lopez is the third defendant to plead guilty in the case. Any defendants awaiting trial are presumed innocent unless and until such time as jury returns a verdict of guilty in the case.

The plea was the culmination of an investigation on the part of special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James H. Robertson, the New York State Police under the direction of Major Christopher Cummings, and the Buffalo Police Department under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 13, 2011, at 1:00 p.m. EST, in Buffalo, N.Y., before Judge Arcara.