The 32-year-old was convicted for his involvement in the 2010 fatal shooting of Alfonso "Joey" McClinton. Garcia, who worked at the New Visions Charter High School for the Humanities I and II for six years, was also allegedly the leader of a violent gang known for drug trafficking.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, Garcia was once the leader of the Get Money Gunnaz subgroup of the Young Gunnaz gang, also known as "GMG YGz." The DEA described the ongoing violence between the two street gangs as a result of disputes over drug-selling territory.
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McClinton, a member of a rival gang, was shot and killed on October 11, 2010. In 2022, Joseph "Juice" Johnson of the GMG YGz pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection with the shooting and is currently serving a 17-year sentence. However, the District Attorney's office claimed that evidence, including ballistics, video footage, and eyewitness testimony, indicated the involvement of a second shooter. It was later determined that Garcia was the second shooter.
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During the investigation, the DEA revealed that Garcia became concerned that Johnson would cooperate with authorities. As a result, Garcia took steps to prevent Johnson from identifying him as the person involved in the murder. The nature of these steps was not disclosed by the agency.
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In a message on a GoFundMe account believed to be associated with Garcia, he portrayed himself as a victim of an oppressive environment in urban communities. The account stated that Garcia, like many young men from poverty-stricken backgrounds, faced harassment, being used as an example, and bullying by local precincts. The account had raised just over $1,000 of its $150,000 goal as of Sunday afternoon.
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Law&Crime reached out to Garcia and his lawyer for comment regarding the account, but did not receive a response.
However, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams contradicted Garcia's portrayal, stating that Garcia was not a victim but a perpetrator of street violence. Williams described Garcia as a wolf in sheep's clothing, using his position as a high school dean to conceal his involvement in drug trafficking. "As a former high school dean, Israel Garcia was trusted with guiding children towards a bright future, but we allege that Garcia himself was participating in the drug trafficking activity that a high school dean should be protecting his students from," Williams said.
Garcia has been convicted of murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to distribute narcotics, murder while engaged in a narcotics conspiracy, murder through the use of a firearm, possessing firearms in connection with narcotics trafficking, and attempted witness tampering. He now faces a potential life sentence. The date for his sentencing hearing has not yet been determined.
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