Trinitarios Gang Member Charged in Connection With Two Shootings in Queens and Brooklyn on the Same Day

An indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging Abel Mora, a member of the Trinitarios, a violent street gang, with being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition related to two separate shootings Mora allegedly committed in Queens and Brooklyn on August 13, 2023.  Mora was arrested this morning and is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy. 

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Edward A. Caban, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the charges and arrest.

“As alleged, this defendant was a one-man crime wave, who engaged in a broad daylight gunfight in Queens, then robbed and shot someone in Brooklyn later that same day,” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “This Office will continue working tirelessly to dismantle gangs and reduce gun violence by prosecuting violent offenders who put the safety of communities in our district at extreme risk.”

Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to the FBI/NYPD Metro Safe Streets Task Force and the NYPD’s 75th and 101^st Precincts for their outstanding work and assistance in this investigation and prosecution.

“Gang members like Mora continue to plague our city with his blatant disregard for the safety of our community and his reckless indifference to human life.  It is only through our local and federal partnerships that we are able to put a stop to these violent repeat offenders,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Smith.  “This case is another example of how the FBI and our law enforcement partners are dedicated to keeping the streets of New York City Safe for everyone in our community.”

“Today’s indictment is a result of the tight focus the NYPD and our law enforcement partners maintain to identify and remove from the streets the individuals who are most significantly driving crime and violence in New York City neighborhoods,” stated NYPD Commissioner Caban.  “I thank our colleagues at the FBI and the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District, in particular, for their unwavering dedication to our shared public safety mission.”

As alleged in the indictment and other court filings, the charges stem from two shootings allegedly committed by the defendant on August 13, 2023 within a span of nine hours.  At approximately 1:05 p.m. in Far Rockaway, Queens, Mora exchanged gunfire with individuals inside of a vehicle as they chased each other throughout a residential neighborhood in the vicinity of New Haven Avenue and Beach 13^th Street.  The shooting, which was captured on video, arose from a fight that broke out between an occupant of the vehicle and Mora’s associate.  Residents of the neighborhood, including children, ran for cover to escape harm.

The second shooting occurred at approximately 9:18 p.m. outside of 3441 Fulton Street in East New York, Brooklyn.  Mora allegedly shot a victim and robbed him of his backpack.  Video surveillance capturing this incident showed that Mora committed this violent crime outside of a busy convenience store with customers and children present inside and outside the location.  Immediately following the shooting, Mora fled to Etna Street with the stolen property, where he was picked up by an associate on a scooter.  The victim survived.  A total of ten 9mm Luger cartridges were possessed by Mora in the two shootings.

This morning, law enforcement recovered a loaded 9mm firearm with a 17-round magazine inside Mora’s residence. 

At the time of the shootings, Mora had a prior felony conviction for assault.

The charge in the indictment is an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Mora faces up to 15 years in prison on each of the two counts.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. As part of the program, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and their local communities to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section.  Assistant United States Attorneys Emily J. Dean and Dana Rehnquist are in charge of the prosecution.

The Defendant:

ABEL MORA
Age: 22
Far Rockaway, Queens

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-383 (FB)