Six Defendants Charged with Murder; Eleven Defendants Indicted for Narcotics and Firearms Offenses

ROCHESTER, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a 12-count superseding indictment charging 11 defendants with a variety of narcotics and firearms offenses. Six of those defendants were also charged with committing a murder in 1998, while two of the defendants were accused of committing a second murder in 1999.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Everardo A. Rodriguez, who is handling the case, stated that count one of the superseding indictment alleges a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine, 280 or more grams of cocaine base, one kilogram or more of heroin, and a quantity of marijuana, in the time period of 1993 through and including February 2011. The superseding indictment charges the following defendants with this offense: James Kendrick, a/ka “JD,” 36; Pablo Plaza, a/k/a “Paul,” 38; Pablo Plaza, a/k/a “Plaza,” 35; Janine Plaza-Pierce, 57; Lance Plaza-Pierce, 20; Edwin Negron, a/k/a “E,” 34; Angelo Cruz, a/k/a “Kubiak,” 34; Angelo Ocasio,36; Jeffrey Davis, 40; Zavier Vazquez, 37; and Phillip Barnes, a/k/a “Cream,” 40. The narcotics charge carries a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison, a maximum term of life, and a $4,000,000 fine.

The superseding indictment charges defendants Kendrick, Pablo Plaza, a/k/a “Paul,” Pablo Plaza, a/k/a “Plaza,” Janine Plaza-Pierce, 57; Edwin Negron, and Angelo Cruz, a/k/a “Kubiak,” with murdering Francisco Santos, a/k/a “Cisco” of Rochester, New York, on or about October 1998. Francisco Santos’ body was found in May 1999 buried on the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation in Erie County.

The superseding indictment further charges defendants Kendrick and Pablo Plaza, a/k/a “Plaza,” with murdering their cousin Ryan Cooper, a/k/a “Chewey,” of Rochester, New York between May and July 1999. Cooper’s body has not been found by police.

The two federal murder counts are subject to the death penalty. The Justice Department has not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty against any of the defendants charged with the murders. The decision will be made by the Attorney General of the United States after careful deliberation of all of the proof and circumstances in the case.

The superseding indictment additionally charges Kendrick, Pablo Plaza, a/k/a “Paul,” Pablo Plaza, a/k/a “Plaza,” Lance Plaza-Pierce, and Zavier Vazquez with unlawfully possessing and/or discharging firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. The gun charges carry a mandatory minimum of up to 10 years, a maximum of life, and a $250,000 fine.

In remaining counts, defendant Kendrick is charged with engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, and various defendants are charged with possessing and attempting to possess heroin and maintaining premises for the purpose of manufacturing and distributing heroin.

"This prosecution demonstrates the commitment of this office to investigate and prosecute the most serious crimes affecting our community—including murders and other cold case crimes which may have happened a decade or more ago,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “Working with our law enforcement partners, this office will use every tool and statute to bring justice and safety to our community.”

Ronald B. Turk, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, New York Field Division, stated, "Today's arrests mark yet another successful phase of ATF's ongoing investigations into street violence. The voices of two victims killed over a decade ago will be heard and answered by the justice system. The dedicated work by the men and women of ATF and our law enforcement partners, having identified numerous violent gun crimes in this investigation and arresting several, is to be commended."

The indictment was the culmination of a joint investigation consisting, in addition to the Bureau of ATF, the Rochester Police Department, Violent Crime Team/Firearms Suppression Unit, under the direction of Chief James Shepard. Numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies assisted in the investigation, including the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Robert T. Meyers and Major Mark Koss; the Erie County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy B. Howard; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge, James H. Robertson; the United States Marshal’s Service, under the direction of Charles Salina; the United States Drug Enforcement Agency, under the direction of Resident Agent in Charge Timothy A. Kernan; the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Philip P. Povero; the Canandaigua Police Department, under the direction of Chief Jonathan P. Welch; and the Irondequoit Police Department under the direction of Chief Richard Boyan. Also assisting in the investigation were the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office, under the Direction of District Attorney Robert M. Carney; the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of District Attorney Michael C. Green; and the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of Frank Sedita.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.