PHILADELPHIA, PA — A Philadelphia man convicted of murder, racketeering and drug trafficking offenses tied to a violent criminal organization operating in the city’s Frankford neighborhood was sentenced Wednesday, October 28, 2026, to life in federal prison plus 30 consecutive years in a case connected to the killing of Philadelphia Police Sgt. James O’Connor.
Kelvin Jimenez, 35, also known as “Nip,” received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Juan R. Sánchez following his conviction on charges arising from his involvement in a drug trafficking organization known as SG1700 or L-Block. The sentence also includes eight years of supervised release, according to U.S. Attorney David Metcalf.
Jimenez was convicted in March 2025 of all charges against him, including racketeering conspiracy, drug trafficking conspiracy, maintaining a drug-involved premises, murder, assaults committed in aid of racketeering and related offenses.
Federal prosecutors established at trial that Jimenez participated in an organization that distributed substantial quantities of narcotics over several years while using violence and threats to maintain control of its territory and protect its reputation.
The prosecution stemmed from a March 2023 superseding indictment charging Jimenez and three co-conspirators with participating in a racketeering enterprise responsible for multiple killings, including O’Connor’s death.
The indictment also included violent crimes in aid of racketeering and other offenses connected to the organization’s activities in Northeast Philadelphia.
The case represents a federal prosecution of organized drug trafficking and associated violence under racketeering statutes, which allow prosecutors to pursue charges involving criminal activity carried out through an enterprise.
“Jimenez and his co-conspirators’ violent tactics claimed lives and changed families forever — including that of Sergeant O’Connor,” Metcalf stated. “As today’s sentence shows, those unleashing criminal mayhem in our city and targeting law enforcement will answer for it, with severe consequences.”
The investigation involved the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Philadelphia Police Department. Federal authorities attributed the organization’s activities to prolonged violence in Frankford, including shootings directed at rival groups.
ATF Philadelphia Field Division Special Agent in Charge Eric DeGree described the criminal enterprise as responsible for deadly confrontations that affected neighborhood residents and law enforcement.
“Jimenez’s brutal criminal enterprise subjected Philadelphia’s Frankford neighborhood to deadly shootouts targeting rivals for too long,” DeGree stated.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel also addressed the sentence, emphasizing the loss of O’Connor and the consequences of the organization’s violence.
“While no sentence can undo that loss, today’s outcome is an important measure of accountability for the violence this organization inflicted on our communities,” Bethel stated.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Martin, Christopher Diviny and Lauren Stram.
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