BROOKLYN, NEW YORK — Jerome Jones, also known as “Sha,” pled guilty on Thursday in federal court to multiple murders committed in the early 1990s while engaged in narcotics trafficking. Jones, 60, admitted his involvement in the 1991 murder of Oscar Flow and the 1992 murders of Robert Arroyo and Dorothy Taylor. The guilty plea was entered before United States District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis.
Jones, a high-ranking member of the Queens-based drug crew known as “Black Rain,” was indicted in February 2019 for his role in these violent crimes. When sentenced, Jones faces 20 years to life in prison.
“After over 30 years, Jones has finally admitted his role in the calculated murders of three individuals,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace. He emphasized that the pursuit of justice for the victims and their families remained steadfast despite the passage of time.
NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban commended the work of the NYPD detectives, stating, “Today’s admission of guilt reflects the tireless dedication of NYPD detectives to hold criminals accountable, no matter how much time passes, because a cold case is never a forgotten case.”
Jones was a key figure in the Black Rain crew, which operated several drug spots on Rockaway Boulevard in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The crew trafficked heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine under the brand names “Black Rain,” “White Lightning,” and “Thunder,” respectively. At its peak, a single Black Rain drug spot generated approximately $15,000 per day in sales. To protect their lucrative operation, the crew committed numerous acts of violence, including murder.
In December 1991, Jones orchestrated the murder of Oscar Flow in Springfield Gardens, Queens, after Flow was accused of stealing from Black Rain. Flow was shot multiple times in the head and body by Jones and a co-conspirator.
The murder of Robert Arroyo occurred in South Ozone Park in August 1992. Jones, suspecting Arroyo of being a drug-trafficking rival and a police informant, hired two co-conspirators to kill him. After an initial failed attempt that seriously injured an innocent man mistaken for Arroyo, the recruits successfully carried out the murder on September 8, 1992, shooting Arroyo multiple times on a crowded street.
In November 1992, Jones ordered the murder of Dorothy Taylor, whom he blamed for the shutdown of a Black Rain drug spot by law enforcement due to her failure to pay rent. On November 2, 1992, a co-conspirator hired by Jones shot and killed Taylor as she arrived home.
The case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, with assistance from the FBI and the NYPD.
