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Terrill Latney, also known as “Motis,” and “Mo,” 39, of Mastic Beach, pleaded guilty in Central Islip federal court to racketeering, including conspiring to distribute narcotics and participating in the murder of Thomas Lacolla on Nov. 17, 2015.
U.S. Attorney Richard Donoghue said that Latney participated in the distribution of crack cocaine, cocaine and heroin in the Riverhead area for nearly a decade.
On the day of Lacolla’s murder, Latney assisted members of the Bloods in their attempt to kill a rival gang member. Latney admitted to driving three Bloods members to a location in Riverhead where they fired at least 39 shots into a vehicle that they erroneously believed was occupied by a rival gang member.
The car was actually occupied by Lacolla, who was killed in the haze of gunfire.
“As a result of the outstanding work by our prosecutors, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Suffolk County East End Drug Task Force, Latney has been held accountable for his role in a large-scale narcotics distribution operation and a senseless act of violence that took a man’s life,” Donoghue said. “We hope today’s guilty plea begins to bring a measure of closure to the victim’s family.”
When he is sentenced, Latney will face life in prison.
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