NEW YORK, NY – Carlos Laureano and Nnandi Ben-Jochannan have received substantial prison sentences for their involvement in the 2014 murder of Luis Perez, as announced by U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York. The sentencing took place under U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman, with Laureano receiving 30 years and Ben-Jochannan 10 years in federal prison.
On August 12, 2014, in Harlem, New York, Laureano fatally shot Perez in an incident tied to a heroin and marijuana distribution conspiracy. According to court documents, Ben-Jochannan assisted in the crime by driving Laureano to and from the murder scene, fully aware that Laureano was armed. Post-murder, they attempted to cover their tracks by cleaning the vehicle and disposing of evidence.
Laureano had pleaded guilty in October 2023 to charges of discharging and possessing a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime. Ben-Jochannan pleaded guilty in December 2023 to possessing and brandishing a firearm during the same drug trafficking crime and aiding and abetting the act.
In addition to their incarceration, Laureano, aged 35, and Ben-Jochannan, aged 30, both residents of the Bronx, will undergo supervised release for three and five years, respectively, upon completion of their prison terms.
U.S. Attorney Williams highlighted the collaborative efforts of the DEA, NYPD, and the career prosecutors in achieving the convictions and sentences, expressing hope that these outcomes would bring some comfort to the family of Luis Perez. Williams reaffirmed the commitment of law enforcement to pursuing justice in homicide cases related to criminal activities.
