United States Attorney Glenn T. Suddaby announced that TARON ROBINSON, a/k/a Turtle, age 20, of Albany, New York, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe to be imprisoned for 137 months, to be followed by supervised release for 5 years, and to pay 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. ROBINSON is the sixth gang member to be sentenced.

ROBINSON 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. ROBINSON’s involvement in the narcotics conspiracy involved the possession with intent to distribute and distribution of more than 35 but less than 50 grams of cocaine base (crack cocaine). ROBINSON also previously admitted that on September 25, 2006, after speaking to a co-conspirator on the telephone, ROBINSON left his residence with a handgun in order to arm himself for an anticipated confrontation with members of a rival gang in the vicinity of Morton Avenue and Eagle Street, Albany, New York, that resulted in shots being fired.

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