Feds charge gang members with multiple murders in NYC area. See video

It's a privilege to represent the SDNY when we coordinate with local, county, and state law enforcement agencies. Today, it is particularly gratifying as we announce the results of a unified effort to enhance the safety and quality of life for the residents of Westchester and northern New Jersey. I'm here to announce that as a result of efforts across Westchester, northern New Jersey, and the Bronx, we've unsealed a federal indictment that charges 11 members and associates of the Bad Boys 7 set of the Trinitarios, a street and prison gang with racketeering conspiracy and several violent crimes and firearms offenses, including five murders in aid of racketeering. Top priorities for all of us up here today are safety and quality of life for the people we serve, especially by removing gun-toting criminals from our streets. This operation has been one of the most significant interagency collaborations in this county in recent memory, and the results speak for themselves. Eleven defendants are facing 15 serious federal charges, including murder, racketeering, robbery, carjacking, and stalking. Their wide-ranging criminal conspiracy was kept afloat by any means necessary, including by murdering one of my constituents. Last August 17th, Ariella Mejia-Palanco, age 33, was found shot to death behind the wheel of her Mercedes Benz on the Her vehicle was found near the Broad Street exit just yards away from a residence she maintained in Mount Vernon. She was almost home when this reprehensible act of violence occurred. The Westchester County Police commenced an intensive and fast-moving homicide investigation that morning. It was quickly determined by our detectives that this was not a random crime. It wasn't some sort of road rage incident. Our real-time crime center leveraged available technology and was able to identify a suspect vehicle in short order, and I do mean short, that morning. In the absence of witnesses and technology, such as license plate readers and traffic cameras were crucial to making immediate progress in this case. Within hours, the investigation was leading into New York City and towards individuals associated with an organized criminal enterprise. Our department reached out to our federal, our state, and our local law enforcement partners. It became clear that thieves had targeted the victim for her luxury vehicle. Our shared goal was to get justice for a young woman, a mom, who was executed in the crime of her life.