NEW YORK, New York — Jerrin Pena, 23, also known as “Rooga,” has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to his role in multiple violent acts and drug trafficking as a leader of the Own Every Dollar (OED) gang. The sentencing was announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York on Wednesday.
Pena, a prominent member of the OED, a subset of the Trinitarios gang, was convicted on several charges including racketeering conspiracy, assault with a dangerous weapon, robbery, discharging a firearm in furtherance of a robbery, narcotics conspiracy, and firearms trafficking.
As part of a larger investigation into gang-related violence, Pena was linked to several criminal activities. Court records revealed that he led the OED gang in its violent operations across New York, particularly in the Washington Heights area. Pena and his associates were responsible for several murders and attempted murders.
In a key incident from April 14, 2019, Pena and other gang members drove to West 135th Street to target a rival gang member. During the attack, Pena opened fire but missed his intended target, instead shooting and critically injuring 57-year-old Hector Cruz, who later died from his wounds.
Pena also participated in a gunpoint robbery on January 22, 2022, near West 145th Street and Riverside Drive, where he targeted a drug dealer. Furthermore, Pena conspired to traffic over four kilograms of fentanyl and was involved in the illegal firearms trade between Pennsylvania and New York.
While incarcerated, Pena continued his violent behavior by stabbing another inmate at the Metropolitan Detention Center on February 28, 2023.
The investigation into the OED gang has led to the arrest of 24 other members and associates, with 16 defendants having already pleaded guilty. Pena’s sentence underscores the significant crackdown on violent gangs and the illegal drug trade in New York.
Pena’s conviction serves as a reminder of the consequences of gang involvement, with authorities continuing to dismantle the operations of violent criminal organizations in the region.
