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Press Release

Longtime Fugitive Sentenced For Racketeering, Murder Conspiracy, Other Crimes

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts
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BOSTON – Enrico M. Ponzo, a/k/a Jeffrey John Shaw, a/k/a Jay Shaw, a longtime fugitive who posed as a rancher while living on the run in Idaho, was sentenced today for racketeering charges in U.S. District Court in Boston.
 
Ponzo, 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 28 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.  In November 2013, following a seven-week-trial, Ponzo was found guilty of racketeering conspiracy, the 1989 attempted murder of Francis P. Salemme, Sr. and the 1994 attempted murder of Joseph Cirame, both of whom were shot and seriously injured.

U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz said, “This case should send a clear message that we take seriously our commitment to hold violent criminals accountable for their actions, even after many years on the run. The severity of today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of his actions and I believe that it adequately addresses the violent nature of his crimes.” 

The jury found Ponzo guilty of murder conspiracy in aid of racketeering, firearm possession in relation to murder conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, conspiracy to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, conspiracy to use extortionate means to collect a debt, use of extortionate means to collect a debt, unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, and attempted witness tampering.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Vincent B. Lisi, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Commissioner Luis Spencer of the Massachusetts Department of Correction - Office of Investigations made the announcement today.  The case was prosecuted by Michael L. Tabak, Karen D. Beausey and Dustin Chao, respectively of Ortiz’s Strike Force, Drug Enforcement and Major Crimes Units.
Updated December 15, 2014