Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., today announced guilty verdicts in the murder trials of OMAN GUTIERREZ and JOSE INOA. GUTIERREZ and INOA conspired to assassinate Edward Contreras, to further the defendants’ drug operation in Washington Heights.
“This case exemplifies the violence the drug trade perpetuates,” said District Attorney Vance. “I thank the prosecutors and investigators for their work bringing these criminals to justice, and the members of the jury for their service on this serious case.”
As proven at trial, at the time the assassination was planned, GUTIERREZ was serving time in state prison and anticipating his release. He recruited INOA to be the hit man, as well as six others to assist in the murder-for-hire, which ultimately occurred on January 11, 2005, at approximately 12:40 a.m. inside Licey’s Supermarket at 186 Sherman Avenue. INOA shot the victim twice — once in the face and once in the chest; Mr. Contreras died in the hospital. INOA also shot Cristian Santos, a friend of the deceased, one time in the face. Santos survived, but sustained serious physical injury and permanent paralysis.
Several defendants charged in the murder-for-hire pled guilty earlier this year, to attempted murder and conspiracy charges.
On July 1, 2010, a jury convicted GUTIERREZ of Murder in the First Degree, Murder in the Second Degree, Conspiracy in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree. The jury convicted INOA of Murder in the First Degree, Murder in the Second Degree, Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Assault in the First Degree, Conspiracy in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree.
District Attorney Vance thanked Assistant District Attorneys Fionnuala O’Doherty and Abigail Kweskin, of Trial Bureau 30, for prosecuting the case, under the supervision of Trial Bureau 30 Chief Eugene Porcaro. District Attorney Vance also thanked Detective Rolando Rivera, Intelligence Division, and the 34th Precinct Detective Squad.
Defendant Information:
OMAN GUTIERREZ, D.O.B. 8/8/74
New York, NY
JOSE INOA, D.O.B. 3/13/74
Bronx, NY
Charges:
OMAN GUTIERREZ
* Murder in the First Degree, a Class A felony
* Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony
* Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a Class B felony
* Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C Felony
* Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a Class D felony
JOSE INOA
* Murder in the First Degree, a Class A felony
* Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony
* Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a Class B felony
* Assault in the First Degree, a Class B felony
* Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a Class B felony
* Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C Felony
* Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a Class D felony
A class A felony is punishable by up to 25 years up to life in prison without parole; a class B felony is punishable by up to 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison; a class C felony is punishable by up to 5 to 15 years in prison; and a Class D felony is punishable by up to 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison.
“This case exemplifies the violence the drug trade perpetuates,” said District Attorney Vance. “I thank the prosecutors and investigators for their work bringing these criminals to justice, and the members of the jury for their service on this serious case.”
As proven at trial, at the time the assassination was planned, GUTIERREZ was serving time in state prison and anticipating his release. He recruited INOA to be the hit man, as well as six others to assist in the murder-for-hire, which ultimately occurred on January 11, 2005, at approximately 12:40 a.m. inside Licey’s Supermarket at 186 Sherman Avenue. INOA shot the victim twice — once in the face and once in the chest; Mr. Contreras died in the hospital. INOA also shot Cristian Santos, a friend of the deceased, one time in the face. Santos survived, but sustained serious physical injury and permanent paralysis.
Several defendants charged in the murder-for-hire pled guilty earlier this year, to attempted murder and conspiracy charges.
On July 1, 2010, a jury convicted GUTIERREZ of Murder in the First Degree, Murder in the Second Degree, Conspiracy in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree. The jury convicted INOA of Murder in the First Degree, Murder in the Second Degree, Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Assault in the First Degree, Conspiracy in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree.
District Attorney Vance thanked Assistant District Attorneys Fionnuala O’Doherty and Abigail Kweskin, of Trial Bureau 30, for prosecuting the case, under the supervision of Trial Bureau 30 Chief Eugene Porcaro. District Attorney Vance also thanked Detective Rolando Rivera, Intelligence Division, and the 34th Precinct Detective Squad.
Defendant Information:
OMAN GUTIERREZ, D.O.B. 8/8/74
New York, NY
JOSE INOA, D.O.B. 3/13/74
Bronx, NY
Charges:
OMAN GUTIERREZ
* Murder in the First Degree, a Class A felony
* Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony
* Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a Class B felony
* Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C Felony
* Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a Class D felony
JOSE INOA
* Murder in the First Degree, a Class A felony
* Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony
* Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a Class B felony
* Assault in the First Degree, a Class B felony
* Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a Class B felony
* Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C Felony
* Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a Class D felony
A class A felony is punishable by up to 25 years up to life in prison without parole; a class B felony is punishable by up to 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison; a class C felony is punishable by up to 5 to 15 years in prison; and a Class D felony is punishable by up to 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison.
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