D.C. Man Gets Prison Term for Pointing Gun at Taxi Driver

WASHINGTON - Erick Blanco-Cordova, 24, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to two years in prison for pointing a firearm at a taxicab driver in November 2019, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

Blanco-Cordova pleaded guilty on Jan. 16, 2026, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of carrying a pistol without a license. The Honorable Judge Robert Salerno sentenced Blanco-Cordova to two years in prison for assault with a dangerous weapon and carrying a pistol without a license, to be followed by three years of supervised release.

Blanco-Cordova's co-defendant, Lesly Taracena, was sentenced to five years in prison in June 2025, after a jury found her guilty of conspiracy to commit an armed crime of violence, assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and other related charges.

According to the government's evidence, at approximately 6:55 p.m., on Nov. 11, 2019, Blanco-Cordova and Taracena were picked up in Arlington, Virginia by the victim, a taxicab driver, and asked to be taken to Union Station in Washington, D.C. After the victim drove the defendants to the corner of 7^th and F Street, NW, Blanco-Cordova and Taracena exited the victim's taxicab without paying their fare. The victim followed them and asked them to pay. Taracena turned around and pulled a firearm out of her pocket, pointing it at the victim while Blanco-Cordova stood next to her. The victim then ran away in fear. When MPD stopped the defendants, they found a .40 caliber Smith and Wesson SD40VE semi-automatic handgun on Blanco-Cordova.

Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged Assistant U.S. Attorney Katerina Qesari, who prosecuted Blanco-Cordova and co-defendant Lesly Taracena, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Skopicki, who prosecuted Lesly Taracena.

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