Earlier today, Jerome Jones, also known as "Sha," was sentenced to 30 years in prison by United States District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis. The sentencing took place in federal court in Brooklyn and relates to Jones' involvement in the murders of Oscar Flow, Robert Arroyo, and Dorothy Taylor during the early 1990s. These crimes were connected to his narcotics trafficking operation.
Jones pleaded guilty to the charges in August 2024. John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the sentence along with Leslie R. Backschies from the FBI's New York Field Office and Jessica S. Tisch of the NYPD.
"Jones now faces decades in prison for his role in a violent drug organization and for several vicious killings committed within less than one year," stated United States Attorney Durham. He emphasized that justice will be pursued regardless of how much time has passed.
The case involved collaboration between multiple law enforcement agencies including the FBI and NYPD, with assistance from the Queens District Attorney’s Office.
Jones was identified as a high-ranking member of "Black Rain," a drug trafficking organization based in Queens that operated during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The group sold various drugs under different names such as heroin labeled "Black Rain" and cocaine referred to as "White Lightning." At its peak, a single drug spot run by Black Rain generated over $10,000 daily.
In December 1991, Jones murdered Oscar Flow after discovering he had stolen from one of Black Rain’s operations. In September 1992, he orchestrated the murder of Robert Arroyo near Rockaway Boulevard due to suspicions that Arroyo was both a competitor and an informant. A third murder occurred in November 1992 when Dorothy Taylor was killed because she was blamed for causing a drug spot shutdown.
The prosecution is managed by Assistant United States Attorneys Tanya Hajjar, Emily J. Dean, Lindsey R. Oken, and Raffaela S. Belizaire with Paralegal Specialist Theodore Rader assisting.