In the early morning hours of March 10, 2021, Mark Bajandas, also known as 'Drama,' was tragically killed on Staten Island, New York. Both Bajandas and his eventual killer had attended a memorial service earlier that evening for a fellow gang member who had been murdered about a year prior. Following the memorial, Bajandas, a former member of the Gorilla Stone Mafia who had defected to a rival gang, was confronted by John Pena, the leader of GSM.
Pena, also known by the aliases 'Tragedy,' 'Don Tragg,' 'Last Don,' and 'Money Baggz,' fired multiple gunshots at Bajandas from close range. The attack was brutal, leaving Bajandas with at least 12 gunshot wounds to his upper torso and extremities.
The investigation into the murder of Mark Bajandas led authorities to John Pena. In June 2021, Pena was arrested on an indictment for being a felon in possession of ammunition related to the murder and was held in federal custody. Later, a superseding indictment charged Pena with murder in-aid-of-racketeering for Bajandas's death, causing death through the use of a firearm, and conspiracy to distribute drugs. The charges stemmed from his leadership role in the Gorilla Stone Mafia, a violent street gang involved in drug trafficking and other criminal activities.
During a seven-day trial in federal court in Brooklyn, a jury found John Pena guilty on all six counts against him, including the murder of Mark Bajandas. Evidence presented at the trial proved that Pena sought revenge against perceived rivals to maintain his leadership position within the gang. Shockingly, writings from Pena's jail cell were recovered where he seemed to take responsibility for the murder. Following his conviction, Pena faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison for his role in the murder of Mark Bajandas and other crimes.
