Damian Williams with the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York announced on Tuesday, Aug. 30, that Nyshiem Spencer a/k/a “Willy,” pled guilty on Tuesday, in Manhattan federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer Willis, to charges relating to his involvement in a shooting on Oct. 31, 2017, in the vicinity of the Soundview Houses in The Bronx, which resulted in the murder of Luis Vargas, 16, along with injuries to two other individuals, including a 15-year-old child.

 

In the context of the announcement, Williams said, “On Oct. 31, 2017, Nyshiem Spencer opened fire in the courtyard of the Soundview Houses and killed Luis Vargas, who was 16 years old. Spencer also shot and injured two other people in the courtyard, including a 15-year-old child.”

 

He added, “Today’s guilty plea shows that we will vigorously investigate and hold accountable those who are responsible for shootings and acts of gang violence in our community. I commend the extraordinary efforts of our law enforcement partners, who worked tirelessly to investigate Luis Vargas’s murder.”

 

According to the allegations presented by the prosecution and other filings and statements made in court, Spencer was an alleged member and associate of the Monroe Houses Crew, a racketeering enterprise which operates principally in the James Monroe Houses in the Soundview neighborhood of The Bronx.

 

“In order to enrich the enterprise, preserve and protect the power of the enterprise, and enhance its criminal operations, Monroe Houses Crew members and associates committed, conspired, attempted, and threatened to commit acts of violence, including murder; distributed and possessed with intent to distribute narcotics; committed robberies; engaged in fraud; and obtained, possessed, and used firearms,” prosecutors said.

 

“On Oct. 31, 2017, Spencer carried out a shooting targeting rival gang members in the courtyard of the Soundview Houses, which resulted in the murder of Luis Vargas, age 16,” they added. “Two other individuals, including a 15-year old child, were injured during the shooting.”

 

According to the prosecution, Spencer, 21, of The Bronx pled guilty to one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in furtherance of a murder, and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, which was brandished and discharged, which carries a maximum prison term of life, and a mandatory minimum prison term of 10 years.

 

The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only. Any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

 

Spencer is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Analisa Torres on March 7, 2023.

 

In the context of the announcement, Williams praised what he described as the “outstanding investigative work” of the NYPD, Homeland Security Investigations, and New York City’s Department of Investigation.

 

The case is being handled by the violent and organized crime unit of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew K. Chan, Justin V. Rodriguez, and Emily A. Johnson are in charge of the prosecution.