United States v. Caraballo, No. 08-4640-cr (2d Cir. November 5, 2009) (Leval, Raggi, Livingston, CJJ)
Gilberto Caraballo was a large-scale drug supplier in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn. In September of 2000, he started dating Quincy Martinez, former girlfriend of Jose Fernandez, a dealer who worked for Caraballo. Three months into their relationship, Martinez asked Caraballo to murder Fernandez because he had been abusive toward her. Caraballo answered, “Say no more.”
Caraballo recruited one of his former drug dealers, Aguilar, and Aguilar’s associate, Taylor, to help do the job. Caraballo had previously cut off Aguilar’s supply over an unpaid drug debt, but promised to forgive the debt and resume supplying to him in exchange for the hit. Taylor, who realized that his own sales would increase once Caraballo started supplying Aguilar again, agreed to help and was to receive $5,000 in cash or drugs.
Aguilar, Taylor and Caraballo did …