Orane Nelson, aka ‘Amaze,’ 28, was sentenced yesterday in Manhattan federal court to a prison term of 65 years for murdering Jennifer Rivera and Jason Rivera on January 16, 2013, in connection with a dispute over a drug debt, as well as for narcotics conspiracy and firearms possession charges.
The announcement was made by Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
At the time of the murders, Jennifer Rivera was 20 years old, and Jason Rivera was 30.
Nelson was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote, who presided over a two-week jury trial earlier this year at which NELSON was convicted on all counts in the controlling indictment.
“Orane Nelson executed two people in cold blood, including a young woman who was murdered simply because she was a witness to Nelson’s crimes,” said Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim.”
“For his terrible crime, Nelson has been sentenced to 65 years in federal prison.”
“Although this prosecution and sentence will not bring the victims back to their families, we and our law enforcement partners at the FBI and the NYPD hope that it brings some measure of justice to them.”
According to court papers and evidence admitted at trial:
From 2011 to 2013, Nelso, was a crack dealer in the Bronx who also carried guns to protect his drug business.
In January 2013, Nelson had a dispute with Jason Rivera over a drug debt owed by Nelson.
Following the dispute, NELSON decided to murder Jason Rivera, and lured Jason Rivera out to a location in the Bronx with the promise of money to be paid for the debt owed.
Jason Rivera brought along his cousin, Jennifer Rivera, who was not involved in any drug trafficking activities, to pick up the money promised by Nelson.
Shortly after midnight, NELSON and an accomplice entered Jason Rivera’s vehicle, and minutes later executed both Jason Rivera and Jennifer Rivera by shooting them each in the head at close range.
Jennifer was killed because she was a witness to the murder of Jason Rivera.
Acting U.S. Attorney Kim praised the FBI and the NYPD for their outstanding work in this investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared Lenow and Jessica Feinstein are in charge of the prosecution.
