TWO BRONX MEN HAVE BEEN SENTENCED TO A TERM OF UP TO
FIVE YEARS FOR THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF A LIVERY CAB DRIVER

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that 20 year-old Ronnie Coleman, and 17 year-old William Burgos, have been sentenced to a term of up to five years imprisonment for the attempted murder of a 42 year-old livery cab driver.

Coleman, of 1409 Fulton Avenue, the Bronx, and Burgos, of 571 East 170th Street, each pled guilty to one count of Attempted Murder in the 2nd degree earlier this month.

State Supreme Court Justice Troy K. Webber sentenced Coleman to a determinate term of 5 years imprisonment. Burgos, a youthful offender at the time of the incident, was sentenced to an indeterminate term of 1 1/3 to 4 years imprisonment. The People recommended a term of ten years imprisonment.

The incident occurred on November 30, 2005 when livery cab driver Juan Arroyo, arrived to pick up a fare at 1451 Crotona Place. When Burgos and Coleman got into the cab, they gave the driver a location then changed their minds twice. Growing suspicious of their behavior, Arroyo asked the pair to get out.

Coleman, who was sitting directly behind Arroyo, pulled out a gun and held it to the cab driver's neck and demanded money. Arroyo grabbed the nozzle of the gun and began to struggle with Coleman. Burgos, who was sitting in the rear passenger seat, punched Arroyo in the face. The pair jumped out of the cab, and as Arroyo attempted to drive off, Coleman fired one shot into the cab striking the cab driver in the hand. Both defendants fled on foot, and were apprehended a short time later.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jose Contreras of the Trial Bureau.