Rochester Drug Trafficking Organization Member Going To Prison For 25 Years For Murdering Rival Drug Dealer

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Jonathan Cruz-Carmona, a/k/a Tapon, a/k/a Eneno, 29, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of murder with a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime, was sentenced to serve 25 years in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katelyn M. Hartford, Cassie M. Kocher, and Robert A. Marangola, who handled the case, stated that between 2015 and January 29, 2018, the defendant was a member of a Rochester drug trafficking organization run by co-defendant Carlos Javier Figueroa. The organization was responsible for selling cocaine and heroin in Rochester in the areas of Clinton Avenue, Burbank Street, LaForce Street, and Conkey Avenue. Carmona packaged, sold, and distributed quantities of cocaine and heroin, and acted as an enforcer to protect the interests of the organization.

On September 12, 2016, the defendant observed Walter Ross, a rival drug dealer, in the area of Clinton Avenue and Burbank Street in Rochester. Carmona had previously warned Ross not to sell drugs in that neighborhood because it was part of the Figueroa organization’s territory. At the direction of Carlos Javier Figueroa, the defendant approached the car Ross was sitting in at the corner of Clinton Avenue and Burbank Street, and shot several times through the window, striking and killing Ross.

“This senseless murder of one drug dealer killing another is sadly all too common,” stated U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “The human loss and havoc wrought by illicit drug dealing can hardly be overstated. My Office will remain steadfast in our commitment to uphold the rule of law and aggressively to prosecute those who deal drugs and engage in violence. While these violent drug dealers do what they do with the express purpose of destroying the lives of both their customers and their rivals, we, together with our law enforcement partners, do what we do as part of an effort to protect, preserve, and enhance the quality of life for all of the residents of our District.”

Charges remain pending against Carlos Javier Figueroa. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito; the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief La’Ron Singletary; the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter; the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of District Attorney Sandra Doorley; the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief Patrick Phelan; and U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent-in-Charge Eduardo Payan.