Sentence For Gang Leader Who Ordered Shooting

MOUNT VERNON, NY — The leader of the G-Shine Bloods gang, Jason Garcia of Mount Vernon, was sentenced to a maximum of 20 years to life in state prison for the shooting outside of the Garden Bar in Mount Vernon in 2016.

The shooter in the Garden Bar case previously pleaded guilty. G-Shine Bloods gang member Matthew Brown also pleaded guilty to the subsequent conspiracy to kill a witness in that case.

At 1:44 a.m. Dec. 10, 2016, outside of the Garden Bar on South 5th Avenue in Mount Vernon, Garcia ordered Brown, a Bloods gang member, to shoot someone who owed Garcia money for marijuana. Garcia was the highest-ranking member of the Westchester set of the Bloods Gang. Garcia was was found guilty of attempted murder and other charges in January following a jury trial. SEE: Gang Leader Found Guilty In Garden Bar Shooting

The target was shot in the chest and neck, and an innocent bystander was shot in the head. Both survived, but face life-long medical difficulties.

Garcia is also indicted for attempted murder connected to the case. Prosecutors allege that Garcia, while being held at the Westchester County Jail, conspired with Brown, Laquanna Kershaw, Cassaundra Dunham and Damien Rickard to murder an eyewitness.

Brown pleaded guilty to Conspiracy in the Second Degree on that matter and was sentenced to 10-20 years in state prison. Laquanna Kershaw also pled guilty to Conspiracy in the Second Degree and is awaiting sentence. The matter is still pending against Dunham and Rickard as well as Garcia.

Garcia appeared in Westchester County Court Tuesday before Judge Anne Minihan and was sentenced as a persistent felony offender, Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced.

• Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a class B Felony – 20 years to life in state prison
• Two counts of Assault in the First Degree, class B felonies -- 20 years to life in state prison on each count
• Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, class C felonies – 16 years to life in state prison on each count

The sentences will run concurrently.

At sentencing, the judge told the court it was clear from the evidence at trial, and from the review of the pre-sentencing report that Garcia not only believed himself above his fellow gang members, but also believed himself above the law.

"The defendant is not above the law; and today he will feel the full weight of justice upon his chest," Judge Minihan said. "He may control his fellow gang members through fear but he holds no such power over the criminal justice system."

Later, Scarpino said putting Jason Garcia away for 20 years to life was a major blow to the gangs at the heart of so many street shootings and other violence in Westchester. "This was a strong investigation into this criminal and the havoc he has caused in Mount Vernon and elsewhere."