Federal Indictment Links 'Bad Boys 7' Gang to Multi-State Crime Spree

Federal prosecutors announced on Monday that nearly a dozen members of a criminal organization known as the "Bad Boys 7" (BB7)—a subset of the Trinitarios gang—have been indicted on racketeering conspiracy and murder charges. The indictment follows a multi-year investigation into a series of violent offenses occurring between September 2023 and 2025.

According to U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton, the group’s activities included armed robberies, carjackings, and assaults across multiple jurisdictions, including Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Westchester, and New Jersey’s Essex and Passaic counties. Officials noted that the gang’s operations were highly mobile, often crossing city and state lines within the same night.

Among the five murders cited in the indictment is the August 2025 death of Ariela Mejia-Polanco, a social media influencer also known as "La Langosta." Mejia-Polanco was discovered deceased in her vehicle shortly after leaving her place of employment in Inwood. Investigators believe she was targeted specifically for her luxury Mercedes-Benz. Westchester County Police Captain James Greer suggested that the case highlights the risks associated with publicizing personal success online, noting that authorities are currently investigating whether the suspects monitored the victim’s social media presence prior to the carjacking.

In addition to the death of Mejia-Polanco, the indictment links the defendants to the shooting deaths of four other individuals: Frankelis Tavarez in the Bronx (March 2024), Gabriel Alvarez and Adam Waldropt at a Throggs Neck car meet (July 2025), and Alvis Perez-Liriano in Newark (August 2025).

"They operate anywhere they think they can strike," said Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musell. The defendants now face a range of federal charges, including RICO violations, firearms offenses, and attempted carjacking resulting in death. Law enforcement officials emphasized that the arrests represent a significant step toward securing justice for the victims and their families.