United States Drug Enforcement Administration

NEW YORK CITY – Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration New York Division, announced that Alexander Arguedas, a/k/a “Reckless,” was sentenced today to 32 years and 6 months in prison in connection with his leadership of the Black Stone Gorilla Gang, a violent street gang that operated in New York City and elsewhere, including for his participation in the December 9, 2012 murder of Gary Rodriguez, narcotics trafficking, firearms offenses, and other acts of violence.  On February 8, 2022, Arguedas pled guilty to racketeering conspiracy, narcotics conspiracy, and a firearms offense.  U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman imposed today’s sentence.

As alleged in the Indictment and based on 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 attempted to evade prosecution by law enforcement authorities through acts of intimidation and violence against potential witnesses to crimes committed by the gang.  Arguedas accepted responsibility for participating in a conspiracy to distribute quantities of cocaine, heroin, and cocaine base, and for using and carrying firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.  Arguedas also participated in the following acts of violence, among others:

On December 9, 2012, Arguedas shot and killed Gary Rodriguez, 46, in the vicinity of 3089 Decatur Avenue in the Bronx.

On September 5, 2015, Arguedas assaulted another inmate while in the custody of the New York State Department of Corrections, causing the victim to lose consciousness.

Between 2017 and 2018, Arguedas got into a violent dispute with another BSGG member (“Victim-1”) about who would serve as a Godfather of the gang.  As a result of this conflict, in or around the Summer of 2018, Arguedas ordered another BSGG member to fire shots at Victim-1 during a BSGG meeting in a public park in the vicinity of Olinville Avenue and East Gun Hill Road in the Bronx, New York.

On August 27, 2018, Arguedas ordered co-defendant Jahvonne Chambers, a/k/a “JV”, who was incarcerated in the New York City Department of Corrections, to use a scalpel to slash a rival gang member housed in the same facility (“Victim-2”).

On November 12, 2019, Arguedas and co-defendant Tyerance Mickey, a/k/a “Hoodlum,” participated in a brutal assault of a disfavored BSGG member (“Victim-3”).  During the assault, Arguedas placed a plastic bag over Victim-3’s head in an attempt to suffocate Victim-3, and Mickey hit Victim-3 over the head with a chair.  As a result of the assault, Victim-3 suffered a broken arm and substantial bruising to Victim-3’s face and body.

In addition to his prison term, Arguedas, 32, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA, Group D-22, Homeland Security Investigations, 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 New York City Department of Corrections.

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.