Albany Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Charges

United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian announced today that KANAN TATRO, a/k/a Kanya, a/k/a Kane, age 23, of Albany, New York, pled guilty in United States District Court, Albany, New York, before the Honorable Gary L. Sharpe, United States District Judge. TATRO pled guilty to racketeering conspiracy charges as set forth in Count 1 of a federal indictment relating to the criminal activities of the ORIGINAL GANGSTER KILLERS (OGK) or "Downtown" gang, which operated within the City of Albany.

In his plea agreement, TATRO, the fourth defendant to plead guilty, admitted that beginning some time in 2000, and continuing to October 23, 2009, he was a member of the criminal organization in Albany, New York known as the OGK gang. OGK gang members operated within and near the downtown section of the City of Albany, New York and routinely engaged in criminal activities that included crack cocaine and marijuana trafficking, the possession of firearms, and acts of assault, robbery, and attempted murder against rival gang members. According to the plea agreement and Indictment, TATRO himself engaged in acts of violence and was a member of a conspiracy that distributed crack cocaine in furtherance of OGK's gang related activities.

Sentencing is scheduled for March 8, 2011. TATRO faces a maximum of life imprisonment, supervised release for up to five years, and a fine up to $250,000.

This prosecution resulted from a joint investigation conducted by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Albany Field Division; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration, Albany District Office; the City of Albany Police Department; the Albany County Sheriff's Department; the Rensselaer County Sheriff's Department; the New York State Department of Corrections; the New York State Division of Parole; and the New York State Police, with the assistance of the United States Marshal's Service, Northern District of New York, Albany Office; the Albany County District Attorney's Office; the Rensselaer County District Attorney's Office; the Town of Guilderland Police Department; the Town of Bethlehem Police Department; and the City of Cohoes Police Department.

CONTACT:
Assistant United States Attorney Carlos A. Moreno
(518) 431-0247