OGK Gang Member Sentenced
Fourth OGK Defendant Sentenced to 51 Months’ Additional Incarceration in Federal Racketeering Case

United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian announced today that KANAN TATRO, a/k/a Kanya, Bk, and Kane, age 23, of Albany, New York, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Gary L. Sharpe to 51 months’ incarceration (TATRO was facing a sentence of 100 months but received 49 months credit for time already served), and five years of supervised release following his release from incarceration. This sentence follows TATRO’s plea of guilty to a racketeering conspiracy charge as set forth in count one 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.

Public record information reveals that TATRO, on June 15, 2005, shot Ernest Conley, then one of the leaders of the “Jungle Junkies” gang that was prevalent in the South End of Albany and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in conjunction with our federal, state, and local partners in the fall of 2006. After being shot, Conley then shot an OGK gang member, who then shot two Jungle Junkies, one of whom shot and killed another. United States Attorney Hartunian, who was the lead prosecutor in the original Jungle Junkies case, stated: “Today’s sentencing of KANAN TATRO is significant, as one of the initial instigators of the escalating violence between the Jungle Junkies and the OGK gangs has been convicted and punished. Such violence is an all-too-common incident of gang activity in our communities, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to combat it.”

TATRO is the fourth OGK gang member to be sentenced. TATRO previously had admitted that he was an OGK gang member and conspired with other persons to possess with intent to distribute and distribute crack cocaine within the Northern District of New York. TATRO’s involvement in the narcotics conspiracy involved the possession with intent to distribute and distribution of more than 50 grams of cocaine base (crack cocaine). TATRO also previously had admitted that he had participated with other gang members in acts of violence and that:

1. On or about June 15, 2005, in the vicinity of Henry Hudson Boulevard and Livingston Avenue, Albany, New York, during a high-speed chase, TATRO shot at and wounded a rival gang member;
2. On or about August 22, 2006, in the vicinity of First Street, Albany, New York, TATRO, together with other gang members, discharged firearms at rival gang members and bystanders and wounded four people;
3. On or about December 15, 2006, in the vicinity of Sherman Street, Albany, New York, TATRO, together with other OGK gang members, discharged a firearm at other people.
   
   

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, and 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; the New York State Police; the United States Marshal, 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:
William C. Pericak, Deputy Criminal Chief
Carlos A. Moreno, Assistant United States Attorney
(518) 431-0247