On Monday, federal authorities announced that nearly a dozen members of the notorious Trinitarios street gang faced serious charges including five counts of murder. This includes the death of a social media influencer who appeared in a music video by Tekashi 6ix9ine.
Eleven individuals from a group known as Bad Boys 7, which is a faction of the Trinitarios gang, have been indicted for various violent crimes with connections to incidents in the Bronx, New Jersey, and the Hudson Valley.
A 15-count indictment has been filed against the suspects, detailing charges of murder, assault, robbery, carjacking, drug trafficking, and wire fraud occurring from September 2023 to September 2025. Notably, this indictment includes armed robberies targeting international recording artists.
“As alleged, the BB7 Trinitarios operated from their historical base in the Bronx, instilling fear in communities throughout New York City, Westchester, and northern New Jersey consistently,” stated U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.
In this sweep, six alleged members of BB7—Justin Murtha, Michael Mercedes Marte, Jose Peralta Gomez, Manuel Abad Rivas, Wilfren Carbuccia, and Jaylin Portes Guava—are charged with the murder of 32-year-old Ariela La Langosta in August 2025.
She was found shot multiple times in her vehicle on the Cross County Parkway in Mount Vernon.
La Langosta, whose real name was Ariela Mejia-Polanco, previously acted in films and had a significant following on Instagram, where she showcased fashion and modeling content, amassing over 500,000 followers.
According to prosecutors, La Langosta was killed during an attempt to carjack her luxury black Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG SUV.
An additional suspect, Darwin Martinez, known as “Moll,” faces separate charges for the murders of Gabriel Alvarez and Adam Waldropt at a Bronx car show in July 2025.
Further incidents have been reported in locations like the Bronx, Newark, and Paterson, as stated by federal authorities.
Some members of the Trinitarios have also been linked to the armed robbery of Dominican musician Boleyn 47 in June 2025.
They allegedly used a GPS device to track the rapper from Massachusetts to a Fort Lee, New Jersey hotel parking lot, where they stole valuable jewelry from him.
Another individual, Jarol Ledesma, is charged with interstate stalking related to the robbery.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch remarked that this operation was a product of the NYPD’s focused policing strategy aimed at dangerous gangs and firearms.
Officials hope this gang bust serves as a strong warning for others in New York City.
“Today’s actions send a clear message that such violence will not be tolerated,” asserted FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. “The FBI New York Safe Streets Task Force remains dedicated to dismantling violent gangs, ensuring public safety, and delivering justice.”
If convicted of racketeering conspiracy, the alleged Trinitarios members could face life sentences in prison.
All defendants were awaiting arrangement on Monday.
