Trini to face murder charge in New York

On Monday, Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls ordered that Gareth Vialva, alias "Volvo," be extradited to face the charges. Mc Nicolls found that the US government had presented a prima facie case to the court that Vialva be extradited.

However, Vialva has 15 days in which to appeal the Chief Magistrate’s ruling.

Vialva was arrested by members of the Interpol Branch, headed by Sgt Wendell Williams, at a house at Perkins Street, Arouca, in July. They were assisted by officers of the Northern Division Task Force.

Attorney Ian Brooks appeared for Vialva while the US government was represented by David West and Sunita Harrikissoon.

Vialva was indicted on May 25, 2005, on charges of murder, conspiracy to murder, attempted murder and illegal use of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. If convicted in the US, he faces a sentence of life imprisonment.

Vialva’s arrest warrant was issued by Joan Azrack, US magistrate judge sitting in the US District Court, Eastern District, of New York.

Six other gang members were arrested on a 26-count indictment on the same day, but FBI and NYPD intelligence officers reported that Vialva fled to Guyana before sneaking into Trinidad. The other gang members were charged with five murders, the shooting of two NYPD officers, and a 13-year-old boy, and rival gang members.

According to the court documents, Vialva is suspected to be a member of a violent gang operating in Brooklyn, New York. The gang is known as the Folk Nation, Black Gangstas, and Black Gangsta Disciples.

The Folk Nation is a nationwide gang active in numerous cities and prisons across the United States.

According to the documents, the Folk Nation gang is active in Brooklyn where it is alleged to have murdered, shot at, stabbed and robbed members of several rival groups in the area. It is also alleged that they murdered and shot innocent bystanders.