ROCHESTER, N.Y.—Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr.
announced today that Pablo "Paul" Plaza, who was convicted by a
federal jury of the murder of Francisco Santos, conspiracy to possess with
intent to distribute and to distribute large quantities of illegal narcotics,
and possession and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of the drug
conspiracy, was sentenced to life in prison plus 10 years by Chief U.S.
District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.
Acting U.S. Attorney Kennedy, crediting his trial team of
AUSAs Rodriguez and Marangola and the ATF Agents and RPD Officers who worked
tirelessly to put this case together, noted that “although justice was a
long-time coming in this case, it is fitting that, in the end, it was delivered
with a measure of permanence.”
ATF Special Agent in Charge Ashan M. Benedict said, “The
sentencing of Pablo Paul Plaza to life imprisonment plus 10 years for his role
in three murders while engaged in a drug trafficking conspiracy demonstrates
that though justice may at times be delayed, it will not be denied. The passage
of time will not lessen the resolve of ATF and our law enforcement partners to
ensure that violent criminals meet their inevitable fate of a cell in a State
or Federal penitentiary. It is our sincerest hope that Plaza’s sentencing, and
the expected sentencings of his co-conspirators, brings some solace and closure
to Ms. Harmon’s family, and the families of the other victims of this violent
organization.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Everardo A. Rodriguez and Melissa
M. Marangola, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated that Plaza and
his brother James Kendrick spearheaded a long term, violent narcotics
trafficking ring in the City of Rochester between 1993 through and including
March 2011. To protect the conspiracy and its members from other drug dealers
and those deemed to be disloyal workers, Plaza, Kendrick, and others in the
conspiracy resorted to violence including beatings and murder.
Specifically, Francisco Santos, a/k/a “Cisco,” was murdered
in October 1998. Santos’ body was found in May 1999 buried on the Cattaraugus
Indian Reservation in Erie County, NY. Santos was a worker for Plaza and
Kendrick and was murdered because the defendants believed he betrayed the
organization by stealing drugs, cash and guns. Plaza and Kendrick initially
retaliated by conducting a drive-by shooting at the residence of Santos’
father, step-mother and sisters, who were four and six years old at the time.
During the trial, the Government presented evidence of
additional acts of violence including the murder of Jose Troche on January 14,
2010. The Government’s proof established that Plaza and Kendrick planned and
executed the murder of Troche because they feared that Troche, also a member of
the conspiracy, was planning to cooperate in the prosecution of the defendants.
In connection with the Troche murder, Plaza and Kendrick decided that Kendrick,
in an effort to fabricate an alibi, would go to a local supermarket and be seen
on camera at the time of Troche’s murder.
In addition, the Government presented evidence that Plaza
directed co-conspirators Damion Colabatistto, Angelo Ocasio and others to
murder a rival drug dealer who injured Plaza in a fight. Colabatistto and
Ocasio went to 137 Cameron Street looking for the rival drug dealer. When they
arrived at the house, the two men shot and killed Meosha Harmon, erroneously
believing her to be the rival drug dealer, when she came to the upstairs window
of the residence. Colabatistto and Ocasio were tried in separate trials and both
were convicted for their roles in the conspiracy and murder of Harmon and are
awaiting sentencing.
James Kendrick was also convicted of drug conspiracy and the
murders of Francisco Santos and of Ryan Cooper. Nine other defendants involved
in the drug conspiracy were charged and convicted of various drug and firearms
offenses and of other violent crimes.
Plaza’s younger brother, also named Pablo, was previously convicted of
participating in the murder of Francisco Santos.
The sentencing of Pablo “Paul” Plaza is the result of a
joint investigation consisting of the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Ashan Benedict, Special
Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Division, and the Rochester Police Depa
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