Danielle R. Sassoon, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, has announced the sentencing of Yaurel Centeno, also known as "Flex," marking the conclusion of a significant case involving 11 members of the Bronx-based street gang known as "WashSide" or "Wash." Centeno received a 24-year prison sentence for his involvement in various crimes linked to his gang membership, including the murder of Tyrone Almodovar on June 26, 2020, and a pawnshop robbery at gunpoint on June 27, 2020. His criminal activities spanned multiple states from Maine to Alabama in 2020.
Centeno had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to racketeering and murder in aid of racketeering on February 2, 2024. U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman delivered the sentence.
U.S. Attorney Danielle R. Sassoon commented: “The WashSide gang terrorized neighborhoods in the Bronx and beyond by killing, shooting, slashing, and robbing people. Together with our law enforcement partners, we have now held WashSide’s members accountable not only for the murder of Tyrone Almodovar, a senseless killing but for countless other crimes committed by the gang all across the country. We will not let violent gangs continue to endanger the welfare of New Yorkers.”
From at least 2015 through 2022, WashSide engaged in numerous violent acts against rival gangs and others as part of their criminal enterprise aimed at generating income and maintaining their territory's dominance. Their offenses included armed robberies, carjackings, drug trafficking, wire fraud along with murder attempts and assaults using dangerous weapons.
Some notable incidents include:
- On June 26, 2020: Boss Terrell ("Sauce"), Centeno, Lydell Seymore ("Bugout"), and Darrell Spencer ("Rell") were involved in a car chase that ended with Tyrone Almodovar's death.
- On June 27: Centeno joined Isaiah Thomas ("Zay," "Chicago"), Jacob Baker, and Tyshawn Brogdon ("Shawn") in robbing a pawnshop at gunpoint.
- On July 29: Terrell shot at rival gang members.
- August incidents involved store robberies leading to injuries and an auto shop carjacking resulting in an employee being dragged alongside.
- Further incidents included drive-by shootings targeting rivals but injuring innocent bystanders.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Courtney L. Heavey and Thomas John Wright led the prosecution under the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit.
The sentences vary among defendants based on their specific charges:
1. Boss Terrell received a sentence of 22 years for conspiracy-related offenses.
2. Yaurel Centeno was sentenced to 24 years for racketeering-related conspiracies.
3. Lydell Seymore received a sentence of 20 years involving racketeering conspiracies.
4. Darrell Spencer was sentenced to 16 years under similar charges.
5. Isaiah Thomas got a sentence totaling up to16 years connected with attempted murder charges.
6. Jacob Baker received a sentence amounting up to over sixteen years (200 months).
7. Tyshawn Brogdon was sentenced up till approximately eight years (100 months).
8 Rasheed Chapman faced around twelve-and-a-half-year term (150 months).
9 Mamadou Diallo was handed down seven-year imprisonment terms.
10 Antwan Mosley encountered ten-year sentencing outcomes while Noel Carr saw nearly six-year punishments allocated (70 months).
Sassoon praised both NYPD's exceptional work alongside Drug Enforcement Administration support throughout this investigation process ensuring justice prevailed effectively against organized crime perpetrators like those within Washside Gang ranks successfully prosecuted today finally bringing closure back onto communities once plagued heavily upon prior instances long since gone yet not forgotten forevermore.
