United States Drug Enforcement Administration

NEW YORK CITY –Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and Acting Special Agent in Charge Timothy Foley, Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division announced that Alexander Arguedas, a/k/a “Reckless,” pled guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Debra Freeman in connection with his role as a Godfather of the Black Stone Gorilla Gang, a violent Bloods street gang whose members and associates had engaged in murders, assaults, robberies, narcotics trafficking, fraud, and witness tampering.  Arguedas also admitted that he participated in the December 9, 2012 murder of Gary Rodriguez.

As alleged in the Indictment and statements made in open court:

Alexander Arguedas, a/k/a “Reckless,” was previously one of the Godfathers of the Black Stone Gorilla Gang, a racketeering enterprise that operated principally in the New York City metropolitan area and in the jails and prisons of New York City and the State of New York.  In order to enrich the enterprise, preserve and protect the power of the enterprise, and enhance its criminal operations, BSGG members and associates committed, conspired, attempted, and threatened to commit acts of violence, including murder and assaults; distributed and possessed with intent to distribute narcotics; committed robberies; engaged in bank fraud and wire fraud; and obtained, possessed, and used firearms.  BSGG members also evaded prosecution by law enforcement authorities through acts of intimidation and violence against potential witnesses to crimes committed by the gang.   

On December 9, 2012, Arguedas shot and killed Gary Rodriguez in the vicinity of 3089 Decatur Avenue in the Bronx, New York.

Arguedas, 32, of the Bronx, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life; narcotics conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison; and using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, which carries a maximum sentence of life and a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison, which must be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed.  Arguedas will be sentenced before Judge Rakoff later this year.

The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for information purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by Judge Rakoff.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the New York City Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Mr. Williams also thanked Homeland Security Investigations and the New York City Department of Corrections for their assistance in the investigation.

This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit.  Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew K. Chan, Brandon D. Harper, Emily A. Johnson, Danielle R. Sassoon, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jaclyn M. Wood, are in charge of the prosecution