In the context of the announcement, Clark said, “The defendant was caught on the street with an illegal gun, posing a threat to the crowd gathered for a parade, and then committed horrendous acts against inmates while he was incarcerated. He has pleaded guilty on three indictments. This prison term will keep a dangerous defendant away from the community.”

Clark said the defendant, Christopher Cano, 30, formerly of Miami, Florida, was sentenced on July 1 by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Shari Michels to seven years in prison and five years post release supervision on second-degree criminal possession of a weapon; three and a half years in prison and five years post release supervision on attempted rape in the first degree, and three and a half years prison and five years post release supervision on attempted criminal sexual act in the first degree.

She said the sentences are to run concurrently and that Cano pleaded guilty to the charges on Dec. 4, 2023.

According to the investigation, on Oct. 19, 2020, while being held in the Rose M. Singer Center, the defendant walked into the shower area where the victim was and raped her.

On May 4, 2021, according to the investigation, the defendant offered to aid another inmate in the George  R. Vierno Center with his criminal case. Once inside the man’s cell, the defendant forced the victim to engage in sex acts.

As reported, Díaz Jr. recently joined and Grammy-nominated Bronx recording artist, Fat Joe, at the annual Herbert H. Lehman Lecture Series held at Lehman College on March 26. Fat Joe recently starred as a councelor to Jennifer Lopez’s character in her recent musical film, “This is Me, Now,” which has received poor reviews. Norwood News has reached out to Diaz Jr. for comment on Cano’s sentencing.

These cases were prosecuted by Jevet T. Johnson, director of the Rikers Island Sex Crimes Prosecution Initiative, Assistant District Attorney Juan Pucha, Jose Arocho, deputy chief of the Rikers Island Prosecution Bureau, Francis Alberts, chief of the Rikers Island Prosecution Bureau, under the supervision of Denise Kodjo, deputy chief of the Investigations Division and Wanda Perez-Maldonado, chief of the Investigations Division.

Clark thanked former Assistant District Attorneys Ilya Kharkover and Georganne Ladis. She also thanked Trial Preparation Assistant Massiel Castillo and Bronx DA Detective Investigator John Watts for their assistance with the case.

Clark also thanked NYPD Lieutenant Carlos Bernard, and retired NYPD Detective Marcos Sanchez and retired NYPD Police Officer Richard Arce, as well as NYC Department of Correction Special Intelligence Unit Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Investigator Clark Orellana, Investigator Connor Olsen, Correction Intelligence Bureau Investigator Jeffrey Rios and Investigator Walter Holmes for their diligent work in the investigation.