United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

BRIDGEPORT MEN PLEAD GUILTY TO RACKETEERING MURDER OF STATE WITNESS

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that FRANK ESTRADA, also known as "Frankie Estrada," also known as "The Terminator," also known as "Big Dog," also known as "Mustard," age 34, and BILLIE GOMEZ, also known as "William Rodriguez," also known as "Billy Rodriguez," also known as "Billy the Kid," age 36, both formerly of Bridgeport, Connecticut, have pleaded guilty to federal murder charges for the January 1996 murder of Aida Escalera. At the time of her murder, Ms. Escalera was a potential witness in a state murder case. Both pleas of guilty were accepted by United States District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport.

On January 29, 1996, Aida Escalera was shot in the head multiple times and ultimately died of her injuries. During ESTRADA's plea proceeding today and GOMEZ's plea proceeding yesterday, June 8, both defendants admitted to participating in the Escalera murder – GOMEZ as one of the shooters and ESTRADA as the person who ordered GOMEZ and another associate, to kill Escalera. According to information presented by prosecutors, ESTRADA ordered the murder to help a close associate who was involved in the state murder case in which Escalera was slated to testify. Both ESTRADA and GOMEZ believed that doing this favor would assist their efforts in establishing and growing a drug distribution organization in the P.T. Barnum Housing Complex and elsewhere.

Eddie Mercado was indicted last month by a federal grand jury for his role in the Escalera murder and is awaiting trial. U.S. Attorney O'Connor emphasized that Mercado's indictment is not evidence of guilt. Mercado is entitled to a fair trial at which it is the Government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

When sentenced by Judge Underhill, both ESTRADA and GOMEZ face a statutory mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole, a $250,000 fine, and a five-year term of supervised release. They are awaiting sentencing on other federal charges stemming from their involvement in the racketeering enterprise headed by ESTRADA.

This case was investigated by the FBI-led Safe Streets Task Force in Bridgeport and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Karen L. Peck and Peter D. Markle.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov