Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Keechant L. Sewell, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), announced the unsealing today of an Indictment charging BOSS TERRELL with murder and other crimes related to his membership in the “WashSide” gang based in the Bronx. TERRELL was charged with the June 26, 2020 murder of Tyrone Almodovar in the Morrisania neighborhood in the South Bronx. TERRELL was arrested today and presented this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo. The case is assigned to United States District Judge Jesse M. Furman.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Today’s charges, as alleged, will hold Boss Terrell accountable not only for his murder of Tyrone Almodovar, but for the rash of crimes he committed with his fellow WashSide gang members. Our Office will continue to root out gang violence in our communities.”
NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said: “The NYPD and our law-enforcement partners will never tolerate violent gangs and the havoc they wreak in our communities. We remain focused on the small number of people who are responsible for the crime and disorder in our city, and we are using every means available to get them off our streets. As demonstrated by this case, gun violence remains a deadly concern in our communities – and any person who threatens the safety of those communities will be held fully accountable. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York Division, and everyone else who worked on this important investigation.”
DEA Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III said: “Boss Terrell’s alleged crimes left a ripple effect by spreading fear and violence throughout the Bronx community. DEA and our law enforcement partners are focused on safeguarding our communities from gang violence and drug trafficking and this arrest is one step in that direction.”
As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court[1]:
BOSS TERRELL was a member of “WashSide” or “Wash,” a gang based in the Bronx whose members and associates, from 2015 to 2022, conspired to commit various crimes with the gang, including murder, attempted murder, robbery, interstate transportation and sale of stolen property, access device fraud, wire fraud, and narcotics trafficking. Among other things, the gang members sold crack, robbed and stole from commercial establishments in the New York City area and in other states, and profited from the use of stolen credit cards and debit cards. Gang members also used guns, and committed acts of violence, including murder, against rival gang members. Members of WashSide promoted and celebrated, including in music and on social media, WashSide’s crimes.
The crimes TERRELL committed with WashSide included the following:
- On June 26, 2020, TERRELL and other members of WashSide participated in the shooting that killed Tyrone Almodovar in the Bronx.
- On July 29, 2020, TERRELL shot at and attempted to murder rival gang members in the Bronx.
- Between June and August 2020, TERRELL conspired with other members of WashSide to rob multiple commercial establishments in the New York City area and in other states.
* * *
TERRELL, 21, of the Bronx, New York, was charged with the offenses listed in the chart set forth below.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA and NYPD and thanked the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office for its assistance in this case.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Courtney L. Heavey and Thomas John Wright are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
|
COUNT |
CHARGE |
MAX. PENALTIES |
|
1 |
Racketeering conspiracy
18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) |
Life in prison |
|
2 |
Murder in aid of racketeering
18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(1) and 2 |
Mandatory life in prison or death |
|
3 |
Use of a firearm for murder
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(j) and 2 |
Life in prison or death
Mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of 5 years in prison |
|
4 |
Attempted murder and attempted assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering
18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(5), (a)(6), and 2 |
10 years in prison |
|
5 |
Use of a firearm for a crime of violence
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), and (iii) and 2 |
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of 10 years in prison |
|
6 |
Robbery conspiracy
18 U.S.C. § 1951 |
20 years in prison |
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the descriptions of the Indictment constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.