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Twelve men from the Dominican Republic, 11 accused of being members of the Bad Boys 7, or BB7, set of the Trinitarios gang, are charged in a sweeping federal indictment alleging violent crimes from 2023 to 2025 in the New York metro area.
The purported gang members allegedly committed five murders, including three in the Bronx, one in Newark and the Aug. 17, 2025, fatal shooting of Ariela Mejia-Polanco, the social media influencer known as Ariela La Langosta, during a botched carjacking on the Cross County Parkway near her Mount Vernon home.
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The defendants
- Cheldrid Sosa, 30, aka "Avipa", "Young Avii"
- Erick Placencia, 30, aka "Grena"
- Justin Martha, 26, aka "Mafia"
- Michael Mercedes Marte, 28, aka "Sicario", "Sikario", "S30"
- Jose Peralta Gomez, 24, aka "JP", "JeyP"
- Manuel Abad Rivas, 21, aka "Rubirosa"
- Wilfren Carbuccia, 21, aka "Diablon"
- Jeilin Portes Guaba, 21, aka "Ganga"
- Javier Pena, 21, aka "Lion"
- Angel Manon, 20, aka "Jerarka"
- Darwin Martinez, 20, aka "Mole"
- Jarol Ledesma, 23, aka "El Nueve", "Lil Nueve"
The charges filed against Trinitarios gang members
All defendants except for Ledesma are charged with Racketeering Conspiracy. Prosecutors could seek the death penalty on the murder and attempted carjacking charges.
- Murder in Aid of Racketeering in the March 30, 2024, killing of Frankelis Tavarez in the Bronx:Cheldrid Sosa and Angel Manon
- Murder in Aid of Racketeering in the July 28, 2025, killings of Gabriel Alvarez and Adam Waldropt in the Bronx:Darwin Martinez
- Murder in Aid of Racketeering in the Aug. 2, 2025, killing of Alvis Perez Liriano in Newark, NJ:Cheldrid Sosa, Erick Placencia, Michael Mercedes Marte, Jose Peralta Gomez, Manuel Abad Rivas, Wilfren Carbuccia, Javier Pena
- Murder in Aid of Racketeering and Attempted Carjacking Resulting in Death in the Aug. 17, 2025, killing of Ariela Mejia Polanco in Mount Vernon: Justin Martha, Michael Mercedes Marte, Jose Peralta Gomez, Manuel Abad Rivas, Wilfren Carbuccia, Jeilin Portes Guaba
- Interstate Stalking and Hobbs Act Robbery in June 28, 2025 armed robbery at Hyatt Place in Fort Lee, NJ:Justin Martha, Michael Mercedes Marte, Jose Peralta Gomez, Javier Pena, Jarol Ledesma
- Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering in July 28, 2025 shooting of rival gang members in Paterson, NJ:Erick Placencia, Michael Mercedes Marte, Jose Peralta Gomez, Wilfren Carbuccia, Javier Pena
- Assault in Aid of Racketeering in Aug. 16, 2025, shooting in the Bronx:Justin Martha, Michael Mercedes Marte, Wilfren Carbuccia
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: What we know about alleged gang members charged in NYC area murders
