United States Attorney Glenn T. Suddaby announced that on June 26, 2008, LAVAR HOUTMAN, a/k/a God, a/ka God of all Gods, a/k/a Villan, age 21, of Albany, New York, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gary L. Sharpe to be imprisoned for 138 months, to be followed by supervised release for 5 years, and a $100 special assessment. This sentence follows the Defendant’s plea of guilty to a federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) violation relating to the criminal activities of the Jungle Junkies gang, which operated within the City of Albany. HOUTMAN is the seventh gang member to be sentenced.

HOUTMAN had previously admitted that he was a member of a criminal organization in Albany, New York, known as the “Jungle Junkies,” participated in the affairs of the gang, and conspired with others to possess with intent to distribute and distribute cocaine base (crack cocaine) within the Northern District of New York. HOUTMAN’S involvement in the narcotics conspiracy involved the possession with intent to distribute and distribution of more than 50 but less than 150 grams of cocaine base (crack cocaine). HOUTMAN had also previously admitted that he also engaged in acts of violence with firearms when he and two other co-conspirators robbed and attempted to murder another person by firing handguns at that individual.

This prosecution resulted from a joint investigation conducted by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Albany Field Division; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration, Albany District Office; the City of Albany Police Department; the Albany County Sheriff’s Department; the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Department; the New York State Department of Corrections; the New York State Division of Parole; the New York State Police; the United States Marshal, Northern District of New York, Albany Office; the Albany County District Attorney’s Office; the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office; the Town of Guilderland Police Department; the Town of Bethlehem Police Department; and the City of Cohoes Police Department.

CONTACT: Carlos A. Moreno
                     Assistant United States Attorney
                     (518) 431-0247