Trinitarios Gang Members Plead Guilty to Murder and Violent Carjackings

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Amaury Guzmán, a member of the Trinitarios street gang, pleaded guilty to multiple carjacking and firearm offenses, including the murder of the victim of an attempted carjacking committed in Queens, New York. The proceeding was held before United States Chief District Judge Margo K. Brodie. Trinitarios gang member and co-defendant Jonathan Guzman previously pleaded guilty to some of the charges, including the murder, in July 2025. When sentenced, Guzmán faces a sentencing range of 35 to 40 years' imprisonment. Rodríguez faces a sentencing range of 32 to 40 years' imprisonment.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the guilty pleas.

"Guzmán and Rodríguez caused fear and chaos through armed carjackings, robberies, and ruthless shootings. Today's outcome is the result of relentless work by our Office and law enforcement partners and further demonstrates the goals of the Administration's Operation Take Back America to protect our communities from violent criminals," stated United States Attorney Nocella.

Mr. Nocella also expressed his appreciation to the Queens County District Attorney's Office for their work on the case.

"Over the span of four months, these two gang members subjected our community to a series of carjackings, senseless shootings, and cold-blooded murder. Alongside our law enforcement partners, the FBI's Metro Safe Streets Task Force has prioritized crushing violent crime by targeting gangs and their violence," stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.

According to court filings and the guilty plea proceeding, between November 2022 and February 2023, Guzmán and Rodríguez variously participated in a string of violent crimes.

November 2022 Attempted Robbery and Shooting

On November 19, 2022, Guzmán and others conspired to rob a marijuana dealer in Queens. Guzmán set up a fake marijuana deal and approached the dealer's car after he arrived at an agreed-upon location. Guzmán approached the dealer's car and as the dealer and his passenger tried to flee, Guzmán fired into the car, shooting the passenger in the shoulder. The passenger survived but underwent extensive surgery to remove a bullet from his neck.

November 2022 Attempted Carjacking and Murder

The next day, on November 20, 2022, Guzmán, Rodríguez, and a co-conspirator used a stolen Mercedes Benz to approach an individual's BMW sports coupe parked on a sidewalk in Queens. Rodríguez approached the victim at gunpoint and fired in his direction as he attempted to flee. The victim was shot once in the back, quickly lost control of his car, which then flipped over onto a sidewalk. He died from the gunshot wound shortly thereafter.

November 2022 Armed Carjacking

Two days later, on November 22, 2022, Guzmán, Rodríguez, and others once again used the stolen Mercedes Benz to approach a victim who had recently parked his BMW X5 on a residential block in Queens. The crew attacked the victim at gunpoint and stole the keys to his BMW X5. They then fled in the stolen Mercedes Benz and in the victim's BMW X5, only to crash into each other minutes later after speeding away from the carjacking. A ghost gun was recovered from the wrecked Mercedes Benz, which ballistically matched the earlier two shootings.

December 2022 Attempted Carjacking and Shooting

Several weeks later, on December 12, 2022, Guzmán and others approached the driver of a Range Rover who was parked on a residential block in Queens, intending to carjack him. As the victim attempted to flee the carjacking, a member of Guzmán's crew fired a shot into the Range Rover, which lodged in the center console after narrowly missing the victim.

February 2023 Armed Carjacking

Less than two months later, on February 1, 2023, Guzmán and others used a stolen Dodge Charger to carjack the owner of a Ford Mustang who was parked on a residential block in Queens. Guzmán and a co-conspirator tackled the victim to the ground as he tried to run from them, stole his keys, and bashed the victim in the head with their guns. Lacerations to the victim's head required hospitalization.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

The government's case is being handled by the Office's Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorney Andy Palacio is in charge of the prosecution.

The Defendants:

AMAURY GUZMÁN
Age: 26
Brooklyn, New York

JONATHAN RODRIGUEZ
Age: 24
Queens, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-107 (S-3) (MKB)