Federal Jury Convicts Bronx Gang Member in Infant Shooting Case

A federal jury convicted Samuel Bautista, also known as Sammy, in a federal gang case stemming from a 2022 Bronx shooting that wounded an 11-month-old girl, prosecutors announced Monday, July 27, 2026.

The verdict was returned Friday, July 24, after a two-week trial in the Southern District of New York. Bautista, 33, of the Bronx, was convicted of racketeering conspiracy, attempted murder and assault in aid of racketeering, as well as firearms and drug-related offenses, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 2, 2026, before U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels. The conviction is a trial-court decision; Bautista may still file post-trial motions and pursue an appeal.

What prosecutors said happened

The shooting occurred on Jan. 19, 2022. Prosecutors said Bautista fired at a rival drug dealer but instead struck an 11-month-old girl who was seated in a car seat beside her mother.

That account reflects the prosecution’s theory, the charging documents and evidence presented at trial. The jury’s verdict establishes Bautista’s criminal liability under the specific federal counts on which it convicted him, but it does not itself determine the final sentence.

The case was investigated by the New York City Police Department and the FBI as part of a broader federal prosecution involving alleged gang activity, drug trafficking and violence.

Why racketeering was part of the case

The racketeering-conspiracy charge concerns an alleged criminal enterprise prosecutors called 2860. A federal court opinion described the indictment as alleging that the enterprise was involved in cocaine and crack trafficking and crimes of violence. The name came from 2860 Grand Concourse in the Bronx, where prosecutors alleged the enterprise was based.

In practical terms, a federal racketeering case allows prosecutors to present alleged related criminal conduct as part of an organized enterprise rather than treating one shooting as an isolated offense. In Bautista’s case, the racketeering count was paired with violence, firearms, ammunition and narcotics charges.

Court records identify the prosecution as United States v. Altorei, No. 1:23-cr-00407. A July 10 court order confirmed that jury selection was scheduled to begin July 13 before Judge Daniels.

Potential punishment

Prosecutors said the convictions carry a combined mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years. The racketeering-conspiracy count and several firearms and drug-related counts carry statutory maximum penalties of life imprisonment.

Those figures describe the legal exposure attached to the convictions, not the sentence Bautista will necessarily receive. The court will determine the final punishment after considering the governing statutes, federal sentencing rules and the parties’ sentencing submissions.

What happens next

The next major date is the Dec. 2 sentencing hearing. Before then, Bautista may seek post-verdict relief, and he may later ask a federal appeals court to review the conviction or sentence.

The verdict therefore marks a completed jury trial but not the end of the case. The sentencing outcome, any post-trial filings and the status of related defendants will determine the next stage of the federal prosecution.

Sources

• U.S. Department of Justice, Southern District of New York verdict announcement
• United States v. Altorei, Aug. 15, 2025 federal court opinion
• CBS New York background report