Trinitarios Gang Member Convicted Of Murdering A Confidential Informant

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that WILLIAM JONES, a/k/a “Principe,” was convicted by a jury of racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, and firearms offenses for his role in the murder of Frederick Delacruz on December 28, 2019.  The defendant was found guilty on all counts following an eight-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “William Jones executed Frederick Delacruz in cold blood because Delacruz had the courage to do the honorable thing and cooperate with law enforcement.  We hope today’s verdict will bring some peace to the victim’s family and sends the message that we will not rest until justice is done.”

According to the allegations contained in the Indictment and the evidence presented at trial:

WILLIAM JONES was a high-ranking member of the Trinitarios, a racketeering enterprise that has engaged in a pattern of murder, attempted murder, drug trafficking, fraud, and witness tampering and retaliation.  On December 28, 2019, JONES and other Trinitarios members lured Frederick Delacruz from the Bronx, New York, to Suffolk County, New York, where JONES shot and killed Delacruz because Delacruz was acting as a confidential informant for law enforcement.

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JONES, 45, of the Bronx, New York, was convicted of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison; murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison; a firearms offense, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison; and murder through the use of a firearm, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for information purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, and the Suffolk County Police Department.  He also thanked the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance.

The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Violent & Organized Crime Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily A. Johnson, Justin V. Rodriguez, and Christy Slavik are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Grayson Glogoff.