Member of 10th Street Gang Pleads Guilty to RICO Charge

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Daniel Colon, a/k/a Drunk Danny, 28, of Buffalo, New York, pleaded guilty to a Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations (RICO) charge before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Tripi, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant was a member of the 10th Street Gang. On October 17, 2009, Colon participated in the shooting of an associate of a rival gang. The defendant and others drove up alongside the associate in the vicinity of Plymouth and Pennsylvania Street on the West Side of Buffalo and another 10th Street member shot the victim. The shooting was in retaliation for the August 11, 2009 murder of 10th Street Gang member Eric Morrow, which was committed by members of the Cheko’s Crew/7th Street Gang enterprise.

In addition, on January 24, 2010, the defendant and other 10th Street Gang members shot an injured an individual they believed was a member of the rival 7th Street Gang. Later on January 24, 2010, the defendant and other 10th Street members forcibly stole property, including a cellular phone, from two victims on West Avenue, and, in the course of demanding property, another 10th Street Gang member, who was with the defendant, displayed a firearm.

The defendant is among forty four 10th Street Gang members and associates charged in this case. A total of 29 have been convicted.

The plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Investigators of the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Michael Cerretto; the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commission Daniel Derenda; and special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian P. Boetig.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 23, 2014, at 1:00 p.m. before Judge Arcara.