Erick Blanco-Cordova, a 24-year-old resident of Washington, D.C., has pleaded guilty to charges stemming from an incident in November 2019 in which he pointed a firearm at a taxi driver. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Blanco-Cordova entered his plea in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, admitting to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of carrying a pistol without a license. Judge Robert Salerno set sentencing for March 18, 2026.
The case involves co-defendant Lesly Taracena, who was found guilty by a jury in April 2025 on several charges including conspiracy to commit an armed crime of violence, assault with a dangerous weapon, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Taracena received a five-year prison sentence in June 2025.
According to government evidence presented in court, the incident occurred around 6:55 p.m. on November 11, 2019. Blanco-Cordova and Taracena were picked up by the victim—a taxicab driver—in Arlington, Virginia and requested transportation to Union Station in Washington, D.C. Upon arrival at the corner of 7th and F Street NW, both individuals exited the cab without paying their fare. When the driver followed them to request payment, Taracena pulled out a firearm and pointed it at him while Blanco-Cordova stood nearby. The driver fled the scene out of fear. Metropolitan Police Department officers later stopped the defendants and recovered a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson SD40VE semi-automatic handgun from Blanco-Cordova.
Blanco-Cordova was arrested on weapons charges in Maryland in March 2025 and has remained in custody since then.
The Metropolitan Police Department led the investigation into this case. Prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katerina Qesari; former Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Skopicki also participated in prosecuting co-defendant Lesly Taracena.
"Erick Blanco-Cordova pleaded guilty today to pointing a firearm at a taxicab driver in November 2019," said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
