Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that GARY TURNER was sentenced to 27 years in prison for the April 2018 murder of 17-year-old Samuel Ozuna.  TURNER was sentenced in Manhattan federal court by United States District Judge Jesse M. Furman, before whom TURNER previously pled guilty.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “Gary Turner killed Samuel Ozuna in order to keep his membership in a crew operating in the Carver Houses in East Harlem.  For this callous crime, Turner will now spend decades in prison.  We thank our partners at the NYPD for their outstanding work on this case.”

According to the Indictment, other filings in Manhattan federal court, and statements made in court proceedings:

On April 24, 2018, TURNER shot and killed Samuel Ozuna in the vicinity of the George Washington Carver Houses (the “Carver Houses”) on 104th Street in East Harlem.  On that night, TURNER, a member of a crew operating in the Carver Houses, was inside the lobby of a building in the Carver Houses when he learned that individuals whom he understood to be from the nearby Washington Houses were coming to the area.  TURNER’s crew was engaged in a rivalry with a crew from the Washington Houses.  Soon thereafter, approximately four individuals, including Mr. Ozuna, ran toward the Carver Houses building, and as they approached, TURNER fired multiple shots in their direction.  TURNER continued to fire as they fled.  TURNER’s gunshots struck and killed Mr. Ozuna.                      

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In addition to his prison term, TURNER, 25, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative efforts of the New York City Police Department.

The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren B. Schorr and Jacob Warren are in charge of the prosecution.

Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that GARY TURNER pled guilty this afternoon in Manhattan federal court to the murder of Samuel Ozuna, 17, outside the George Washington Carver Houses in New York, New York on April 24, 2018.  United States District Judge Jesse M. Furman presided over the defendant’s guilty plea today.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “Last April, Gary Turner murdered 17-year-old Samuel Ozuna.  Today, Turner admitted in open court to committing that terrible act of violence.  We will continue our daily work with the NYPD to keep the streets safe and vigorously to investigate and prosecute those who bring murder and mayhem to our communities.”

As alleged in the Indictment and statements made in open court:

On April 24, 2018, GARY TURNER shot and killed Samuel Ozuna in the vicinity of 60 East 104th Street in Manhattan.  TURNER committed this killing in order to maintain his position in a violent gang that was operating in the residential neighborhood surrounding the George Washington Carver Houses. 

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TURNER, 24, of Manhattan, pled guilty to using a firearm to commit murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum sentence of death or life in prison, and a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison.  The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department.

This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit.  Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Schorr and Jacob Warren are in charge of the prosecution.

Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James P. O’Neill, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging GARY TURNER with the April 24, 2018, murder of Samuel Ozuna, 17, outside the George Washington Carver Houses in New York, New York.  TURNER was arrested this morning and was presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Debra Freeman.  TURNER will be arraigned on May 8, 2018, at 2:30 p.m., before U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman, to whom the case has been assigned.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “Just a few days ago, as alleged in the indictment, Gary Turner murdered 17-year-old Samuel Ozuna.  Thanks to the outstanding efforts of the NYPD, Turner is now in custody and charged with this terrible crime.  We will continue our daily work with the NYPD to keep the streets safe and to vigorously investigate and prosecute those who wreak violence upon our community.”

NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill said:  “Violence will never be tolerated in New York City.  I commend all the professionals whose dogged investigative work enabled the NYPD and our law enforcement partners to swiftly identify, apprehend and bring this alleged killer to justice.”

As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court[1]:

On April 24, 2018, GARY TURNER shot and killed Samuel Ozuna in the vicinity of 60 East 104th Street in Manhattan.  TURNER killed Ozuna in part to maintain and increase his position in a racketeering enterprise operating in and around the George Washington Carver Houses.

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TURNER is charged with using a firearm to commit murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum sentence of death, or life in prison, and a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison.  The statutory maximum penalty is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge.           

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD.

This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit.  Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Schorr and Jacob Warren are in charge of the prosecution.           

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

 



[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.