NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A 36-year-old Crip member was charged in the 2015 fatal shooting of a leader of his own gang in Brooklyn, authorities announced Tuesday.
Jason Soto, also known as "Twin," a member of the Cypress Gangsta Crips (CGC), a subgroup of the Eight Trey Crips based in the Cypress Hills Houses in East New York was arrested in the February 2015 murder of Shakim Rivera, the leader of the CGC, officials said.
According to court documents, Soto was a member of the CGC since at least February of 2015. The gang, which operated in the Cypress Hills Houses and elsewhere committed acts of violence to promote the gang, enforce the rules of the gang, keep rivals in fear of CGC and earn money for the gang through firearm and narcotics trafficking and robberies.
The investigation revealed a deadly gang turf war fought in the Cypress Hill Houses between gangs that have aligned themselves by where their members live within the housing complex.
The Bloods gang associated with the "Frontside" section of Cypress feuded with the CGC members of the "Backside" and "Teamside" sections of Cypress.
An internal war broke out in 2015 within the CGC when high-ranking member Demetrius Graham, also known as "Duke," was murdered on Feb. 19, 2015.
Believing that CGC leader Shakim Rivera was responsible for Graham’s murder, members of CGC planned retaliation, prosecutors allege.
On Feb. 19, 2015, Soto traveled from Pennsylvania to Brooklyn to carry out Rivera’s murder. Days later, on Feb. 22, 2015, Soto lured Rivera to the vicinity of 9011 Bayview Place in Canarsie where Soto and another member of the CGC allegedly shot and killed Rivera, the leader of CGC, in retaliation for Graham’s murder, authorities said.
The indictment was the result of a 2015 investigation in response to gang-related violence in and around the Cypress Hills Houses.
It resulted in charges against over 20 people for drug trafficking, illegal weapons possession, robbery and murder.
If convicted, Soto faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison, or possibly the death penalty.
"Jason Soto, a Crips gang member, allegedly appointed himself as judge, jury, and executioner to murder his own leader as twisted justice for the death of a fellow member," FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy.
"Soto’s alleged actions contributed to the infestation of gang violence plaguing a Brooklyn housing complex and endangered the lives of thousands of its residents. With the assistance of our law enforcement partners, the FBI will continue to apprehend any gang member wreaking havoc in our communities," he added.