Earlier today in Brooklyn federal court, Abel Mora, also known as “Moreno,” was sentenced to 135 months in prison by United States District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis. Mora, a member of the Trinitarios street gang, had previously pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and discharging a firearm after he robbed and shot an individual in East New York on August 13, 2023. Following his guilty plea and while detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, Mora attempted to smuggle contraband—including a weapon, drugs, and other items—into the facility. He later pleaded guilty to possession of contraband in prison.
The sentencing was announced by Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s New York Field Office; and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department.
“Mora not only shot and robbed a man in Brooklyn, he subsequently attempted to smuggle drugs, weapons and other contraband into prison,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our Office has zero tolerance for inmates that make jails less safe and will continue to aggressively prosecute gang members who victimize the public by engaging in gun violence and put innocents at risk as they go about their day.”
Nocella also acknowledged the work of the FBI/NYPD Metro Safe Streets Task Force as well as NYPD’s 75th and 101st Precincts during the investigation and prosecution.
FBI Assistant Director Raia said: “Abel Mora, a Trinitarios gang member, boldly attempted to smuggle drugs and weapons into a federal detention center despite previous convictions related to a gunpoint robbery and public shootout. His sustained propensity to criminality displays a blatant disregard for the wellbeing of others and the law. May today’s Operation Coast to Coast sentencing emphasize the FBI’s determination to hold accountable any gang member who jeopardizes the safety of our communities and our prisons.”
NYPD Commissioner Tisch added: “Abel Mora showed exactly why he is a danger to society – first by recklessly shooting and robbing New Yorkers in plain view, and then by trying to smuggle weapons and other contraband into a federal detention center. Today’s sentencing is a strong reminder that we will stop at nothing to identify and dismantle street gangs like the Trinitarios that are placing our communities at risk. I thank the NYPD investigators, all our law enforcement partners, and the prosecutors at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their work getting this dangerous criminal off our streets.”
According to court documents, Mora committed two shootings on August 13, 2023—one in Queens around 1 p.m., where he fired at a vehicle during an altercation captured on video surveillance; residents including children were seen fleeing from gunfire. Later that night in Brooklyn outside 3441 Fulton Street, Mora used the same firearm during another shooting where he robbed his victim's backpack near a busy corner store with customers present.
Law enforcement arrested Mora on September 26, 2023 at his home where they recovered the loaded firearm used in both incidents from his bedroom radiator.
While detained at MDC after pleading guilty, Mora along with co-defendants tried smuggling contraband—including items such as a scalpel, cell-phone charging cord with plug, lighters, cigarettes and illegal narcotics—into MDC using ropes connected from inside. Surveillance video documented these actions.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Emily J. Dean, Dana Rehnquist, and Russell Noble from both Organized Crime & Gangs Section as well as General Crimes Section.
Abel Mora is age 24 from Far Rockaway, New York.
