Defendant: Jason Garcia (DOB 03/21/83) aka "Mecca-J"

Nov. 24, 2020 -- Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced 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. He was found guilty of attempted murder and other charges in January following a jury trial.

Garcia appeared in Westchester County Court before Judge Anne Minihan and was sentenced as a persistent felony offender as follows:

  • 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 county

All sentences will run concurrent with one another.

At sentencing, Judge Minihan told the court: “It is clear from the evidence at trial, and from the review of the PSR [pre-sentence report], that the defendant not only believes himself above his fellow gang members, but also believes himself above the law. The defendant is not above the law; and today he will feel the full weight of justice upon his chest. He may control his fellow gang members through fear but he holds no such power over the criminal justice system.”

DA Scarpino later added: “Putting Jason Garcia away for 20 years to life is a major blow to the gangs at the heart of so many street shootings and other violence in our cities. This was a strong investigation into this criminal and the havoc he has caused in Mount Vernon and elsewhere.”

Co-Defendant Matthew Brown was previously sentenced as follows:

  • Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a class B Felony -- 20 years state prison + five years Post-release supervision
  • Assault in the First Degree, a class B felony -- 20 years state prison + five years Post-release supervision

He pleaded guilty to both charges. Both sentences will run concurrent with one another.

Garcia is also indicted for attempted murder of an eyewitness to the Garden Bar shooting. Garcia, while being held at the Westchester County Jail, conspired with Brown, Laquanna Kershaw, Cassaundra Dunham and Damien Rickard to murder the 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 plead guilty to Conspiracy in the Second Degree and is awaiting sentence. The matter is still pending against Dunham and Rickard as well as Garcia.

Investigations Division Assistant District Attorneys Jean Prisco, Deputy Chief of the Gangs Bureau, and Jennifer Sculco, Acting Deputy Chief of the Public Integrity Bureau, prosecuted the case.

For more information on these cases, please see earlier press releases:

Garcia Trial

Conspiracy Case

In compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 3.6, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

_______________

Media contact:
media@westchesterda.net
(914) 995-3586