10th Street Gang Member Pleads Guilty to RICO Conspiracy Involving a Murder; Five Others Also Plead Guilty to RICO Conspiracy

Buffalo, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that 10th Street Gang member Miguel Moscoso, 23, of Buffalo, N.Y., pleaded guilty to Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations (RICO) before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The defendant murdered Christian Portes, a member of the rival 7th Street Gang, on June 13, 2009 at the corner of Whitney Place and Maryland Street. Moscoso faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $250,000 fine.

In addition, five other members of the 10th St. Gang pleaded guilty to Racketeering charges. Defendants Matthew Deynes, 32, David Deynes, 32, Charles Watkins, 32, and Nourooz Ali, 30, all of Buffalo, face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Defendants Desmond Ford, 32, also of Buffalo, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Tripi, who is handling the case, stated that between 2000 and 2010, the defendants were members of the 10th Street Gang. As a part of their involvement in the gang, the defendants, along with other members and associates of the gang, committed violence, possessed firearms, and sold marijuana, cocaine, crack cocaine, and other controlled substances on the West Side of Buffalo.

The defendants are among 44 10th Street Gang members and associates charged in this case. A total of 37 have been convicted.

The pleas are the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Michael Cerretto, the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Resident Agent in Charge Frank Christiano.

Matthew Deynes and David Deynes will be sentenced on July 18, 2014; Desmond Ford will be sentenced on July 24, 2014; Charles Watkins will be sentenced on July 25, 2014; Nourooz Ali, will be sentenced on July 28, 2014, and Miguel Moscoso will be sentenced on July 30, 2014 at 12:30 p.m., all before Judge Arcara.