Hugo Rodriguez, also known as “Juice,” was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role as the leader, or “Duarte,” of the Own Every Dollar (OED) gang. The sentencing was handed down by U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken, according to an announcement from Jay Clayton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
“Too many New York neighborhoods are plagued by gang violence and drug trafficking,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “New Yorkers deserve better. The women and men of our Office will continue to target gun violence and drug trafficking.”
Court documents state that Rodriguez led OED, a subset of the Trinitarios gang operating primarily in Washington Heights, Manhattan. Authorities have secured convictions against 22 members of OED related to five murders, over ten attempted murders, multiple robberies, and running a significant drug operation distributing fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine.
Rodriguez had previously served time for state offenses involving a shooting and possession of contraband while incarcerated. After being released on parole, he attempted to murder a rival gang member in Washington Heights on August 12, 2021. He also committed an armed robbery there on February 14, 2022—an incident where the victim was pistol-whipped—and continued narcotics trafficking while under parole supervision.
Following his arrest on August 1, 2022, Rodriguez remained in federal custody awaiting trial. During this period he faced disciplinary actions for fighting, testing positive for methamphetamine use, and possessing an improvised weapon in jail. Additionally, he was prosecuted separately by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York after being convicted for assaulting another inmate.
For much of his tenure with OED Rodriguez held its highest leadership position as “Duarte.” In addition to the prison sentence announced Friday, Rodriguez—29 years old and from Brooklyn—was given five years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Clayton commended the work of several law enforcement agencies including the New York City Police Department (NYPD), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Drug Enforcement Task Force as well as support from both Manhattan and Bronx District Attorney’s Offices and other agencies involved in investigating this case.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah L. Kushner, Kevin Mead, Ashley C. Nicolas, and Alexandra Messiter from the Office’s Narcotics Unit.
