Federal Indictment Charges 12 Alleged Trinitarios Gang Members in Multi-State Murder and Racketeering Case
- The NY Pulse
- Jul 23
- 3 min read
Federal prosecutors have unsealed a sweeping 15-count indictment charging 12 alleged members and associates of the "Bad Boys" (BB7) set of the Trinitarios street gang in connection with a violent criminal enterprise that authorities say terrorized communities across New York and northern New Jersey over a two-year period.
Announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York alongside federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, the indictment accuses the defendants of participating in a racketeering conspiracy involving multiple murders, assaults, armed robberies, carjackings, narcotics trafficking, and other violent crimes between September 2023 and September 2025.
According to prosecutors, the BB7 faction operated primarily out of the Bronx while expanding its criminal activity into Westchester County and northern New Jersey. Investigators allege the gang engaged in a sustained campaign of violence that resulted in at least five homicides and numerous additional victims.
One of the defendants, Jarol Ledesma, also known as "El Nueve" or "Lil Nueve," faces separate charges related to the alleged armed robbery and interstate stalking of a prominent international music artist. Prosecutors allege that members of BB7 used a GPS tracking device to follow the artist's vehicle from Massachusetts through New York before confronting the victim in a hotel parking lot near Fort Lee, New Jersey, where high-value jewelry was stolen at gunpoint.
The indictment outlines several violent incidents attributed to the organization, including:
The March 2024 murder of Frankelis Tavarez in the Bronx.
A retaliatory gang shooting in Paterson, New Jersey, in July 2025.
The fatal shooting of Gabriel Alvarez and Adam Waldropt during a car meet in the Bronx later that same month.
The August 2025 murder of Alvis Perez Liriano near Newark, New Jersey.
An attempted armed robbery in the Bronx that left two victims seriously wounded.
The attempted armed carjacking and fatal shooting of Ariela Mejia-Polanco during a high-speed pursuit on the Cross County Parkway in Westchester County.
Officials described the investigation as one of the most extensive interagency gang investigations conducted in the region in recent years.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said the indictment reflects a coordinated effort to dismantle a violent criminal organization that allegedly operated across the tri-state area.
"As alleged, the BB7 Trinitarios terrorized communities in New York City, Westchester, and northern New Jersey," Clayton said. "This indictment reflects a broad-based effort by federal and local law enforcement to stop the violence and bring relief to affected communities."
FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. said the alleged crimes caused devastating losses for victims and their families while reaffirming the FBI's commitment to dismantling violent gangs operating in New York.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch credited the arrests to coordinated intelligence-led policing and partnerships among multiple law enforcement agencies, emphasizing the department's continued focus on targeting violent gangs and illegal firearms.
Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace highlighted her office's role in the investigation into the killing of Ariela Mejia-Polanco, describing the prosecution as a reaffirmation that public roadways belong to law-abiding residents rather than organized criminal groups.
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clarke also praised the collaboration among federal and local authorities, expressing hope that the prosecution will provide some measure of justice for the families of homicide victims Frankelis Tavarez, Gabriel Alvarez, and Adam Waldropt.
The investigation involved the FBI, the New York City Police Department, the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, prosecutors from multiple New York and New Jersey jurisdictions, and numerous local police agencies.
The case will be prosecuted by the White Plains Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.
As with all criminal proceedings, the indictment contains allegations only. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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