A West Virginia man pleaded guilty in Brooklyn federal court on Friday to murder while engaged in narcotics trafficking for his role in the 1991 murder of Oscar Flow in Springfield Gardens.
As part of his plea, 60-year-old Jerome “Sha” Jones also admitted to his role in the 1992 murders of Robert Arroyo in South Ozone Park and Dorothy Taylor at her South Queens home.
Jones was a high-ranking member of the notorious Queens-based Black Rain crew that sold narcotics at several locations along Rockaway Boulevard in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The gang trafficked in massive quantities of drugs, selling heroin under the brand name “Black Rain,” cocaine under the brand name “White Lightning” and crack cocaine under the brand name “Thunder.”
In the early 1990s, a single Black Rain drug lair brought in approximately $15,000 per day in narcotics sales. To protect its profitable operation, the gang committed serious acts of violence, including murder.
In December 1991, Jones learned that Oscar Flow had stolen from his Black Rain crew and he and co-conspirator shot Flow multiple times in his head and body in Springfield Gardens. In August 1992, Jones recruited and paid two co-conspirators to murder Robert Arroyo, whom Jones believed was a drug-trafficking competitor and a police informant. In the first attempt, the recruits mistakenly shot and seriously injured another man they incorrectly believed to be Arroyo. The victim survived his wounds. On Sept. 8, 1992, in the vicinity of 128th Street and Rockaway Boulevard, where Jones managed a drug spot, he set up Arroyo for another hit. This time, the recruits located Arroyo on the crowded street and opened fire, striking him multiple times and killing him.
In November 1992, Jones ordered the killing of Dorothy Taylor, who he blamed for having a Black Rain drug spot shut down by law enforcement when she failed to pay the rent. Jones again paid a co-conspirator to commit the murder. On Nov. 2, 1992, Jones recruited him in Taylor’s driveway and shot her to death when she arrived home.
“After 30 years, Jones has finally admitted his role in the calculated murders of three individuals,” U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said. “Despite the passage of time, my Office persisted in pursuing all leads to seek justice for the victims and their families.”
Jones pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garafuis.
“This case should stand as a reminder that even when the trail appears to have gone cold, we will never waver from our mission of holding wrongdoers, especially violent actors, accountable.”
When sentenced, Jones faces 20 years to life in prison.
“Today’s admission of guilt reflects the tireless dedication of NYPD detectives to hold criminals accountable no matter how much time passes,” NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban said. “Because a cold case is never a forgotten case.”
