U.S. Attorney Damian Williams | U.S. Department of Justice
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that Jerrin Pena has pled guilty to several charges, including racketeering conspiracy. Pena, known as "Rooga" or "Perry," is a member of the violent gang Own Every Dollar (OED). The charges are related to his involvement in the 2019 murder of Hector Cruz and other criminal activities.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams stated: “On April 14, 2019, Jerrin Pena murdered Hector Cruz, an innocent bystander to gang violence. That murder is just one of the many acts of violence that members and associates of Own Every Dollar have committed that have terrorized Washington Heights and surrounding communities. This Office will not stop its pursuit of dangerous gangs, and violent gang members will be apprehended and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
According to court documents and proceedings, OED is a subset of the Trinitarios gang operating in Washington Heights, Manhattan. The indictment involves 24 members charged with various violent crimes, including five murders and 15 attempted murders.
The incident on April 14, 2019, involved Pena targeting a rival gang member but mistakenly shooting Hector Cruz on West 135th Street. Cruz died from his injuries about a month later.
Pena also admitted guilt in an attempted murder at the Metropolitan Detention Center on February 28, 2023; a robbery on January 22, 2022; conspiracy to traffic over four kilograms of fentanyl; and firearms trafficking from Pennsylvania to New York.
Thirteen other OED defendants have previously pled guilty in this case. One such defendant is Mayovanex Rodriguez who received a sentence of 25 years for a murder committed in 2022.
Pena's plea includes charges carrying potential maximum sentences ranging from five years to life imprisonment. His sentencing is set for March 4, 2025, before U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken.
Mr. Williams acknowledged the contributions made by the New York City Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration in this case. The prosecution team consists of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah L. Kushner, Kevin Mead, Alexandra S. Messiter, and Ashley C. Nicolas from the Narcotics Unit.
