Member of Cypress Gangsta Crips Gang Charged With 2015 Murder

Press Release

The Defendant Allegedly Shot and Killed His Own Gang Leader

Earlier today, a two-count indictment was unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn charging 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 of East New York, Brooklyn, with the February 2015 murder of Shakim Rivera, the leader of the CGC. The defendant was arrested this morning and will be arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Sanket J. Bulsara.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the arrest and indictment.

"This indictment makes clear that my Office and our law enforcement partners are relentless in our pursuit of violent gang members who have committed murders and harmed communities like the Cypress Hills Houses for far too long," stated United States Attorney Peace. "We are reducing gang and gun-related violence and saving lives through a coordinated effort to target the most violent offenders, like this defendant."

"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. 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," stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy.

"The residents of the Cypress Hills Houses, along with all New Yorkers in every neighborhood, deserve to live their lives without fear," stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. "The NYPD and our law enforcement partners are dedicated to systematically dismantling the gangs and crews responsible for crime and violence in New York City. I commend the collaborative efforts of our NYPD investigators, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York in identifying and holding accountable those who terrorize our communities."

As detailed in the indictment and other court documents, since at least February of 2015, Soto was a member of the CGC, which operated in the Cypress Hills Houses and elsewhere. CGC members 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-in the midst of residential buildings, stores and a playground-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 February 19, 2015. Believing that CGC leader Shakim Rivera was responsible for Graham's murder, members of CGC planned retaliation.

On February 19, 2015, Soto traveled from Pennsylvania to Brooklyn to carry out Rivera's murder. On February 22, 2015, Soto lured Rivera to the vicinity of 9011 Bayview Place in the Canarsie neighborhood of Brooklyn. As alleged, Soto and another member of the CGC shot and killed Rivera, the leader of CGC, in retaliation for Graham's murder.

The indictment is the result of a long-term investigation initiated by the FBI, the NYPD and the Office in 2015 in response to gang-related violence in and around the Cypress Hills Houses. The investigation has resulted in charges against over 20 defendants for drug trafficking, illegal weapons possession, robbery and murder.

If convicted, the defendant faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison, or possibly the death penalty.

The charges announced today are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The government's case is being handled by the Office's Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States <_w3a_listitem listvalue="Choose an item."><_w3a_listitem listvalue="Attorney" datavalue="Attorney"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="Attorneys" datavalue="Attorneys"> Attorneys Emily J. Dean and Andy Palacio are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Theodore Rader.

The <_w3a_listitem listvalue="Choose an item."><_w3a_listitem listvalue="Defendant" datavalue="Defendant"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="Defendants" datavalue="Defendants">Defendant:

JASON SOTO
Age: 36
Queens, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-511 (RER)

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Updated December 17, 2024