Former highschool dean and NYC gang member sentenced to life in jail for 2010 homicide

A former New York Metropolis highschool dean who was additionally the chief of a violent road gang within the Bronx has been sentenced to life in jail for killing a person on the road in a turf struggle over drug dealing, sources mentioned. – accusation.

Israel Garcia was sentenced to life in jail and 5 years for the October 2010 homicide of Alfonso “Joey” McClinton, mentioned Damian Williams, U.S. Lawyer for the Southern District of New York. The sentence got here lower than a 12 months after Garcia, 33, was discovered responsible of a string of crimes together with a number of homicide and narcotics prices, in addition to witness tampering and weapons possession.

“Israel Garcia, a former highschool dean who might have had a optimistic affect on our neighborhood, will spend the remainder of his life in jail for the brutal homicide of Joey McClinton,” Williams mentioned.

Garcia, also referred to as “Shorty Rock,” was beforehand the chief of Get Cash Gunnaz, which is a part of the bigger Younger Gunnaz road gang, prosecutors mentioned. Garcia ran the group for greater than a decade, throughout which era he was accountable for drug distribution within the space of ​​East 184th Avenue and Morris Avenue in Fordham Heights, in line with court docket paperwork.

Armed gang members have been reportedly concerned in shootouts with rival gangs within the space. Throughout one of many shootings, on October 11, 2010, McClinton, 21, was shot and killed.

Quickly after, gang member Joseph “Juice” Johnson was arrested and later convicted of the homicide, prosecutors mentioned, however ballistics and video proof confirmed one other gunman was accountable. McClinton’s demise. Based mostly on the proof and witness testimony, it was decided that Garcia was the second shooter.

Williams mentioned the gang Garcia led had been “combating with Joey McClinton’s household over a drug ring” within the Bronx, and the killing helped cement his function as chief and strengthen his management over the commerce. medication within the Bronx space.

“Over the following ten years, García led the GMG YGz reign of terror within the neighborhood, recruiting youngsters and others right into a drug trafficking enterprise to poison the neighborhood with crack cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl, and defending his drug turf with fireplace and violence. Over time, Garcia tried to create the facade of a law-abiding citizen, changing into the dean of an area highschool to cover the truth that he was nonetheless operating GMG YGz violence and drug trafficking,” mentioned Williams. “Yesterday, a jury unanimously discovered Garcia accountable for the brutal homicide of Joey McClinton and for destroying numerous different lives.

Along with the homicide prices in opposition to him, Garcia was additionally accused of taking steps to stop Johnson from figuring out him as the opposite gunman after he grew to become involved that Johnson may co- work with the police.

Lawyer info for Garcia was not instantly out there.