Three members of the Own Every Dollar (OED) gang were found guilty of four murders and ten attempted murders, according to an announcement by Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. The convicted individuals, Jowenky Nunez Jr., also known as "Juju," Brian Hernandez, known as "Malikai," and Iyaury Rodriguez-Rosario, known as "Bricha," faced 25 counts after a five-week trial overseen by U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton stated: “Jowenky Nunez, Jr. murdered Nicolas Vargas and Hector Cruz, and all three defendants murdered Richard Dominguez and Israel Cabrera. Nunez, Hernandez, Rodriguez-Rosario, and other members of OED tried to murder many others." He emphasized that public safety remains a top priority and expressed hope that the verdict provides some comfort to victims' families.
The indictment accused Nunez of leading OED, a faction within the Trinitarios gang operating in Washington Heights, Manhattan. Hernandez and Rodriguez-Rosario are identified as members of this group. Charges against 24 associates include various violent acts like five murders and fifteen attempted murders.
In specific incidents outlined in court documents, Nunez was responsible for killing Nicolas Vargas on August 31, 2018, near an IHOP in the Bronx. On April 14, 2019, during an attack intended for rival gang members on West 135th Street in Manhattan, bystander Hector Cruz was fatally shot. Additionally, on July 2, 2020, Nunez alongside Hernandez and Rodriguez-Rosario executed Richard Dominguez and Israel Cabrera near Sedgewick Avenue in the Bronx.
Further charges reveal Nunez's involvement in nine additional attempted murders including one at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn while awaiting trial; several were caught on video. Hernandez was linked to three attempted murders while Rodriguez-Rosario was involved in two.
The trio also faced convictions related to drug trafficking involving fentanyl and heroin distribution. Moreover, both Nunez and Rodriguez-Rosario were found guilty of illegally transporting firearms from Pennsylvania to New York.
Seventeen other defendants have previously pleaded guilty with sentences varying from twenty to twenty-five years for crimes such as murder. Upcoming trials include leaders Jesus Zapata ("Jeezy") and Brayan Lloret ("ET"), charged with violent acts at Rikers Island scheduled for October 6, 2025; another trial is set for February 2, 2026 against Jowenky Nunez Sr., known as "Bala."
Nunez (22), Hernandez (25), both from New York City along with Rodriguez-Rosario (43) from Reading Pennsylvania face mandatory life imprisonment due to their convictions across numerous charges ranging from racketeering conspiracy to narcotics trafficking.
Jay Clayton commended law enforcement agencies including the NYPD Drug Enforcement Administration along with multiple district attorney offices for their collaborative efforts throughout this investigation handled by his office’s Narcotics Unit led by Assistant U.S Attorneys Sarah L Kushner Kevin Mead Alexandra S Messiter Ashley C Nicolas who prosecuted these cases successfully.
