About omar morhbi

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, July 25, 2024

Brooklyn Math Teacher Charged with Allegedly Enticing

Teenagers to Send Him Explicit Sexual Images

Posed as a Young Teen and Allegedly Engaged in Graphic Conversations

On Snapchat; Charged in Connection with Six Child Victims Attending Elite Schools

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a 37-year-old former math teacher has been charged with use of a child in sexual performance and promoting a sexual performance by a child as sexually motivated felonies, as well as other related counts, for allegedly enticing or trying to entice teenage students from four Brooklyn schools to send him images of nudity and sexual performances. The defendant, who used to teach at Saint Ann’s School in Brooklyn Heights, allegedly pretended to be a young teen and fellow student when engaging in conversations of sexual nature over the messaging application Snapchat.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “A complicated investigation by detectives from my office revealed extremely disturbing conduct by this defendant, who allegedly posed as a peer to coax teenagers to send him sexually explicit images of themselves, which he then allegedly distributed. The fact that he was a teacher and a trusted figure among students make these allegations even more troubling. We will now seek to hold him accountable and will continue to work diligently to protect children from sexual exploitation.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Winston Nguyen, 37, of Harlem, New York. He was arraigned today in Brooklyn Criminal Court on a criminal complaint charging him with use of a child in a sexual performance, promoting a sexual performance by a child, first-degree disseminating indecent material to minors, third-degree conspiracy, third-degree criminal solicitation and endangering the welfare of a child. Bail was set at $30,000 cash or $75,000 bond and the defendant was ordered to return to court on October 17, 2024.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, the defendant allegedly presented himself as a young teen when having conversations with children on Snapchat. He is charged with crimes against five girls and one boy who went to the independent Brooklyn schools Saint Ann’s School, Poly Prep Country Day School, Berkeley Carroll School, and Packer Collegiate Institute. It is believed that the defendant had similar online interactions with numerous other children.

The 11 charged incidents allegedly took place between October 2022 and May 2024. The first four involved a child who, starting when they were 14, received multiple video messages from an account called hunterkristoff depicting a nude boy masturbating, and was subsequently asked to send images of them nude or performing sexual acts. Investigators located the boy seen on the videos, who lives in another state and was 16 at the time.

The same account, hunterkristoff, was allegedly used to conduct prolonged communications that described and depicted various sexual acts and requested images of nudity and sexual performances from four additional victims, whose ages ranged between 13 and 15.

The sixth victim, who was 15, received messages from an account called haircutbongos that engaged them in similar conversations and made similar requests. In May 2024, the child sent a video depicting them perform a sexual act and was allegedly paid by the defendant. It is alleged that the defendant shared some of the explicit photos he received from the victims when chatting with other children.

The two Snapchat accounts mentioned above were connected to IP addresses associated with the defendant’s Harlem residence, according to the investigation. Other evidence includes digital communications and images, and accounts from victims.

Anyone with information about this case or this defendant is asked to email ReportSNAPCHATImages@brooklynda.org.

The case was investigated by KCDA Detective Investigators, with the assistance of Senior Digital Forensic Analyst Sourov Talukder and Digital Forensic Analyst Richard Rojas, of the District Attorney’s Digital Evidence Lab.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Daniel Brian Newcombe, of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Kevin O’Donnell, Deputy Bureau Chief, and Assistant District Attorney Olatokunbo Olaniyan, First Deputy Bureau Chief, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, Bureau Chief.

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A criminal complaint is merely an accusation and not proof of a defendant’s guilt

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, July 16, 2024

Brooklyn Men Who Stole Approximately $227,000 from

Elderly Clinton Hill Woman Sentenced to Prison

Former Neighbor of 94-Year-Old Woman Facilitated Theft Using a Power of Attorney

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Freaney, U.S. Secret Service New York Field Office, today announced that two men convicted of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from an elderly woman over six months have been sentenced to up to three years in prison.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “These defendants targeted an individual who is among the most vulnerable of our populations – a 94-year-old woman – while pretending to be neighborly and helpful. Instead, they stole hundreds of thousands of dollars. Fortunately, their scheme was unraveled, and they have now been held accountable. I thank the Secret Service and my prosecutors for their work on this case.”

Special Agent in Charge Freaney said, “These men took advantage of an elderly woman, stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars out from under her. Crimes like these that affect the most vulnerable among us are abhorrent, and the Secret Service is grateful to our partners from the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office for holding these men accountable and ensuring that justice was done.”

The District Attorney identified the defendants as Humberto Nunez, 68, of Clinton Hill, Brooklyn and Mahilima Baa, 52, of Stuyvesant Heights, Brooklyn. They were sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Adam D. Perlmutter. Both defendants were sentenced to an indeterminate term of one to three years in prison. The defendants were convicted of second-degree grand larceny and second-degree criminal possession of stolen property on March 20, 2024, following a jury trial. Baa was additionally convicted of two counts of first-degree identity theft.

The District Attorney said that, according to the trial testimony, between July 19, 2019, and January 7, 2020, the defendants, who are acquaintances, stole approximately $52,000 from a former business account associated with 684 Quality Cleaners, which was owned by Nunez’s former neighbor, Rose Kane, who is now deceased. Nunez, who lived two doors down from the victim and occasionally ran errands for her, was purportedly given power of attorney by her prior to her becoming incapacitated, moving into a nursing home, and having a guardian appointed.

Furthermore, on November 5, 2019, the defendants stole approximately $175,000 from a reverse mortgage line of credit the victim had since 2009.

Furthermore, according to the evidence, defendant Baa stole another $20,000 by impersonating the victim and opening two credit cards using her name, her address, date of birth and her Social Security number. He then added himself to the accounts as an authorized user. He used the funds to pay for various fees and personal expenses, a rental car, furniture for his children, office supplies, alcohol, restaurants and at a night club.

Nunez also used the funds for his personal expenses, according to the evidence, despite telling the reverse mortgage company the money was to be used to make badly needed and extensive repairs to the victim’s house. However, no repairs were made to the property and the defendants withdrew most of the $175,000 received from the reverse mortgage line of credit in cash, with the rest used to make credit card payments and personal purchases.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service New York Field Office and Detective Investigators assigned to the District Attorney’s Investigations Bureau.

The District Attorney thanked Intelligence Analyst Yacelys Corona and Paralegal Sheila Jones, of the Investigations Division, for their assistance on the case.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Karen P. Turner, of the District Attorney’s and Senior Assistant District Attorney Daniel R. Tibbets, both of the District Attorney’s Frauds Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Gregory Pavlides, Frauds Bureau Chief, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Michel Spanakos, Deputy Chief of the Investigations Division and Assistant District Attorney Patricia McNeill, Chief of the Investigations Division.

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, June 14, 2024

Defendant Convicted of Murdering Young Father in Fort Greene

And Shooting Another Individual Sentenced To 28 Years to Life in Prison

Defendant was Convicted of Shooting Two Victims Following Jury Trial

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 28 years to life in prison following his conviction on one count of murder and one count of assault for shooting two young men at the Ingersoll Houses in Fort Greene following a petty dispute.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a violent and inexplicable shooting of two strangers by this defendant who, after a minor verbal dispute, retrieved a gun and lay in wait for his victims. I hope that today’s sentence brings some closure to the friends and family of Jo’heem Hamilton, a young father, and to the surviving gunshot victim.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Earl Morgan, 54, of Fort Greene, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today to 28 years to life in prison by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Laura Johnson. The defendant was convicted of second-degree murder and first-degree assault on April 26, 2024, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on May 30, 2020, just after 2:00 a.m., in the vicinity of 24 Monument Walk, Jo’heem Hamilton, 25, and another man, age 36, were walking to a store to get some food when they encountered the defendant hanging out in and around the lobby. As the victims walked by, according to the evidence, the defendant approached them and engaged in a brief verbal altercation.

When the victims walked away, the defendant left the area and retrieved a loaded firearm, according to the evidence, and then returned and waited in a stairwell near the entrance of the lobby for the victims. When they returned, and their backs were turned, he fired multiple shots at point-blank range. He then put the gun in his waistband and walked away, according to the evidence.

Jo’heem Hamilton, who was father to an infant daughter, was shot in the back and died of his injuries. The second victim was also shot in the back and suffered serious injuries.

The defendant was arrested on June 16, 2020.

The District Attorney thanked Homicide Paralegal Angelika Rostkowska and Chief Analyst Alexandra Aber of the Digital Evidence Lab for their assistance on the case.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Joseph Bianco, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Amelia DiGirolamo, of the District Attorney’s Red Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, June 13, 2024

Brooklyn Woman Sentenced to 20 Years to Life in Prison for Striking and Killing Senior Citizen While Trying to Run Over Man With SUV

Defendant Convicted of Murder Last Month Following a Jury Trial

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a woman has been sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for striking and killing a 70-year-old woman with her SUV after she deliberately drove up onto the sidewalk and attempted to run over a male pedestrian.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Today’s sentence holds this defendant accountable for her shocking and depraved actions that cost an innocent woman her life. While nothing can bring Brenda Ann Whidbee back to her family and friends, I hope this sentence offers them some sense of solace.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Layla Adredini, 33, of Stuyvesant Heights, Brooklyn. She was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Michael Kitsis to 20 years to life in prison. The defendant was convicted of second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder on May 23, 2024, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on August 24, 2021, at approximately 9:20 p.m., the defendant was driving her 2003 white Ford Explorer in the vicinity of 2185 Pacific Street in Ocean Hill when she deliberately drove up on the sidewalk in an attempt to hit a 50-year-old male acquaintance. The defendant missed her intended target, and instead crashed into Brenda Ann Whidbee, 70, who was seated in a chair outside her home.

Furthermore, according to the evidence, the defendant attempted to flee the scene on foot before being stopped by neighborhood residents.

This week, the Virtual Currency Unit, pursuant to a court order, seized a network of 70 linked scam domains, all associated with the investment scam targeting Russian victims in Brooklyn and elsewhere. It identified over 20 Brooklyn victims from Brighton Beach, Borough Park, Midwood, Sheepshead Bay, Ocean Parkway, Manhattan Beach, Kensington, and other neighborhoods. There were three additional victims from Manhattan. The victims ranged in age from 35 to 75 with the majority older than 50. They reported individual loss amounts ranging from $18,000 to over $117,000. In total, the New York victims lost over $1 million.

Whidbee, a grandmother and a fixture of her community for over 40 years, suffered severe injuries. She was taken to Brookdale Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Daphney Gachette, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Gianna Del Grippo, of the District Attorney’s Green Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 28, 2024

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 25 Years to Life in Prison for

Fatally Shooting Teenager in East New York

Defendant Wrongly Accused Victim of Being a Gang Member

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for fatally shooting a 16-year-old boy in an unprovoked attack.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Justin Richey was brazenly and senselessly shot to death by this defendant in broad daylight on a Sunday afternoon. Justin was killed just one day after his 16^th birthday. I hope today’s sentence brings a measure of solace to his heartbroken family and friends.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Ralief Bradford, 30, of East New York, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Phyllis Chu to 25 years to life in prison. The defendant was convicted of second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon on March 28, 2024, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to trial testimony, on July 15, 2018, at approximately 5:07 p.m., on Blake Avenue between Euclid Avenue and Pine Street, in East New York, Brooklyn, the defendant and two unapprehended individuals approached the victim, Justin Richey, and wrongly accused him of being in a rival gang. They then assaulted him, and the defendant brandished a gun and shot the victim three times in the torso.

The victim collapsed and was taken to Brookdale Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The defendant was arrested on July 18, 2018.

The District Attorney thanked Intelligence Analyst Lexie Giardina and Digital Forensic Analyst Taylor Mumley of the Digital Evidence Lab for their assistance on the case.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Sarah Jafari, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Christopher Colt Rainwater, of the District Attorney’s Red Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Man Indicted for Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Child

Defendant Allegedly Raped 15-Year-Old Girl, Tried to Persuade Her to Engage in Prostitution

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a man has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with attempted sex trafficking of a child and other charges for allegedly trying to convince a 15-year-old girl to engage in prostitution.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant allegedly exploited a vulnerable teenager, trying to convince her to engage in prostitution. Luckily, she reported him to the police. We will now seek to bring him to justice.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant Deandre Lee, 29, of East New York, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on an indictment in which he is charged with attempted sex trafficking of a child, second-, third- and fourth-degree attempted promoting prostitution, third-degree rape, third-degree sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child. The defendant was ordered held on bail of $100,000 cash or $500,000 bond and to return to court on August 7, 2024.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on April 28, 2024, the victim, a 15-year-old girl, was walking on Mother Gaston Boulevard in East New York when she met the defendant, who let her charge her phone in his car. He then asked her to walk around the corner to meet him, and he then allegedly drove her to Chipotle to get some food.

Furthermore, the District Attorney said, after they ate, the defendant drove the victim to the side of a highway in Brooklyn, gave her marijuana, then had sex with her. He then allegedly told the victim she could make money by stripping or selling her body in exchange for money. He then drove her home. The next day, the defendant and victim were texting, and the defendant again asked the victim if she thought about what they talked about. The victim then reported the rape to police.

The defendant was arrested yesterday in the Bronx, following an investigation.

The District Attorney thanked Human Trafficking Unit Paralegal Aurora Martinez for her assistance on the case.

The case was investigated by New York City Police Department Detective Paul Mastronardi of the New York City Police Department’s Human Trafficking Squad, under the supervision of Sergeant Kevin Kavanagh, Lieutenant Amy Capogna and Captain Thomas Milano, and the overall supervision of Chief Carlos Ortiz.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Iorio, of the District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Unit, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney David Weiss, Chief of the Human Trafficking Unit, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, Chief of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau.

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An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Crown Heights Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for
Fatally Shooting Teenage Girl at Party in East New York Apartment

Defendant Shot the Victim Once in the Chest After She Rejected His Advances

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Crown Heights man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for shooting a 17-year-old girl once in the chest and killing her at a party in 2022. The defendant was convicted of manslaughter in March.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This senseless shooting took the life of a young woman with a bright future. Today’s sentence holds the defendant accountable for his actions and is a measure of justice for the victim’s grieving family.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Javone Duncan, 24, of Crown Heights, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today to 15 years in prison by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Heidi Cesare. The defendant was convicted of second-degree manslaughter and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon on March 25, 2024, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, at approximately 10:55 p.m., at 790 Elderts Lane, in East New York, Brooklyn, the defendant pointed a loaded gun at Raelynn Cameron, 17, pulled the trigger, shot her in the chest, and killed her. After the shooting, the defendant fled the scene without trying to help the victim, who had rejected his advances, according to the evidence.

Prior to the shooting, the defendant pointed the same gun at another young woman at the party and clicked the safety of the gun on and off, according to the evidence, and was told to stop pointing a loaded gun at people because it was dangerous.

The defendant was arrested on October 26, 2022.

The District Attorney thanked Homicide Paralegal Angelika Rostkowska and Victim Advocates Jennifer Rhoad, Vanessa Lozado, Kayla Richards, Sarah Obadeyi, and Shasha Dorsey for their work on the case.

Detective Investigators assigned to the District Attorney’s Investigations Bureau assisted in the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Evan Hannay, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Miguel Rodriguez, of the District Attorney’s Red Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, May 16, 2024

Brooklyn District Attorney Moves to Vacate Conviction of Brooklyn

Man Who Served 23 Years for Homicide in Case of Mistaken Identity

Identification Procedure for the Sole Eyewitness Was Improper;

The Probable Real Culprit Had Implicated Himself on Secret Recordings

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that following a thorough reinvestigation by his Conviction Review Unit (CRU), he will move to vacate the conviction of Steven Carrington, 56, who was convicted of participating in a botched robbery of an East Flatbush lumberyard in 1995, where an employee was fatally shot. He served over 23 years in prison and was released in 2018. The reinvestigation found that Mr. Carrington did not commit the crime. The identification by the sole eyewitness, a customer who was a stranger to the defendant and saw him fleetingly, was not tested for reliability and should never have been admitted at trial. In addition, the CRU identified another person, who had implicated himself in a couple of surreptitious recordings, as the likely real accomplice to the fatal robbery. The CRU report is available here.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “A full investigation by my Conviction Review Unit concluded that this was a case of mistaken identity, where numerous red flags were ignored both before and after Mr. Carrington’s conviction. This case exemplifies the pitfalls of one witness identifications and highlights the lengths our CRU will go to unearth the truth. Mr. Carrington has proclaimed his innocence from Day One and, while we cannot undo the decades he spent in prison, today we are able to substantiate his claim and give him back his good name.”

The defendant will appear in court today at 2:15 p.m. before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Matthew D’Emic at 320 Jay Street, 15^th Floor.

The District Attorney said that on January 2, 1995, at about 10:50 a.m., a man named Shannon France, armed with a gun, entered Lumber Headquarters on Church Avenue in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. After a struggle, he twice shot an employee, Lloyd St. George Campbell, killing him. He robbed the store’s cash box and told a customer to leave. But that man was held up by an accomplice – later identified as Carrington – who took his Seiko gold-colored watch and a pinky ring, before the two robbers fled.

The defendant was convicted, based on the testimony of the customer, of second-degree murder (for acting in concert with France) and of robbery and was sentenced to 23 years to life in prison. France was convicted of similar charges and sentenced to 25 years to life (he was released in 2021 and deported).

When the defendant was first interviewed by police, he stated that it was a case of mistaken identity. At trial, he put forth an alibi defense, claiming he was at home with his former girlfriend that morning, when he got a call from his wife that she had taken their young child to the hospital. She asked him to come there, and he did. The two women, the defendant, and his parents all testified to that, but prosecutors were able to rebut the claim by showing inconsistencies with the timeline they provided.

The CRU’s investigation uncovered a serious problem with the identification of the defendant. Both the customer and another employee who was outside the store in the lumberyard identified the defendant in a photo array. During a pre-trial hearing to determine whether the procedure was improperly suggestive, it came out that three of the fillers were used in another array shown to the employee two days earlier (of a different suspect whom he didn’t identify). The judge ordered another hearing for the employee to decide whether his observations provided an independent basis for the ID. (Unlike the customer, the employee didn’t identify the defendant in a lineup, so he wasn’t called to testify, and that second hearing never took place). When asked by the hearing judge if the customer also viewed the earlier array, both his lawyer and the prosecutor said that he did not. The judge ruled that the photographic array procedure wasn’t suggestive.

A thorough review of police reports led the CRU to establish that the customer did, in fact, view the earlier array and therefore, by process of elimination, picked out the defendant from only three photos, instead of six. Had the judge ordered an independent source hearing for him as well, the fact that the traumatized customer initially gave a general description of a stocky black man would have likely precluded him from identifying defendant at trial, leaving prosecutors without adequate evidence to prove the case. At trial, the lead detective testified that both witnesses viewed both arrays, and the police reports confirming that were available to all sides, but no one alerted the new trial judge about the hearing judge’s mistaken ruling.

A few years after the conviction, the defendant provided a name of the person who allegedly committed the robbery with France. The DA’s Office investigated that claim but concluded that that person was incarcerated at the time of the crime. However, the CRU was able to discover that he was actually on a 14-week work release program that ended two days after the murder, wherein he was furloughed six days a week and likely residing in his neighborhood of East Flatbush.

In addition, the CRU was provided with two recordings of this alternative suspect. One was a mini cassette recording of a barely audible phone conversation from 1999 that was likely recorded by the defendant’s mother, with France on the line from prison. In it, the alternative suspect mentioned the lumberyard, said “we messed up,” and described the Seiko watch as not being made of gold and the small pinky ring – details that were not known to the public. The second was a videotape from the same year, where that person was coaxed into sharing details about the incident and at some point said, “I don’t feel good. I always think about it,” and acknowledged that the wrong man was imprisoned for the crime.

The CRU also interviewed a man who was inside a pharmacy across the street from the lumberyard and claimed that the alternate suspect was France’s true accomplice – recalling that he would see him in the neighborhood around that time and watched him flee the lumberyard at the time of the murder. Finally, in a 2012 affidavit and in subsequent parole hearings, France took responsibility for his role and repeatedly stated the defendant was not involved.

For these reasons, particularly the flawed identification procedure that was compounded by errors from the hearing judge, the prosecutor, and defense counsel, the CRU recommended that Carrington’s conviction should be vacated, and his indictment dismissed. Subsequently, the office investigated the possibility of charging the alternative suspect. Regrettably, legal hurdles unique to prosecuting a crime that occurred nearly three decades ago and for which another individual was convicted at trial render prosecution of the that suspect unviable.

To date, the work of the Conviction Review Unit has resulted in 38 convictions being vacated since 2014. Currently, CRU has approximately 60 open investigations.

This case was investigated by Assistant District Attorney and CRU Editor-in-Chief, Lori Glachman, under the supervision of Charles Linehan, Unit Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, May 13, 2024

Bushwick Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

for Illegal Possession of Ghost Guns

Defendant Assembled Arsenal of 13 Weapons Including AR-15 Style Rifles

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 10 years in for prison for assembling an arsenal of illegal and untraceable firearms known as ghost guns. The defendant was convicted of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and other related charges in April after authorities recovered 13 weapons from his Bushwick apartment, including assault weapons, handguns, and rifles.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Ghost guns are a threat to New Yorkers everywhere, and my Office is working tirelessly with our partners in law enforcement to stop their proliferation. Today’s sentence should send a message to anyone who, like this defendant, would try to evade critically important background checks and registration requirements to manufacture and stockpile these dangerous weapons. Every ghost gun we take off the street is a win for public safety.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Dexter Taylor, 53, of Bushwick, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Abena Darkeh to 10 years in prison. He was convicted of two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon; three counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon; five counts of criminal possession of a firearm; unlawful possession of pistol ammunition; and prohibition on unfinished frames or receivers on April 16, 2024, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, following an investigation, members of the New York City Police Department identified Taylor as having ordered numerous ghost gun kits and component parts from various online retailers that were shipped to the defendant’s address on Eldert Street in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

A search warrant was executed at the defendant’s apartment on April 6, 2022, and numerous items were recovered, including four AR-15 style assault weapons, five handguns, four rifles and over 50 rounds of ammunition in addition to gun powder, shell casings, triggers, a 3D printer, and various upper and lower receivers used to build firearms. The weapons were being stored in an unlocked safe as well as a closet.

According to evidence presented at trial, the defendant spent approximately $40,000 to obtain the ghost guns parts and tools. The defendant did not have a gun license.

The investigation was conducted by the New York City Police Department’s Major Case Field Intelligence Team and Detective Investigators from the District Attorney’s Investigations Bureau.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Omar Harding and Senior Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Visotzky, of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Alfred De Ingeniis, VCE Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Three Hoolie Gang Members Sentenced to Lengthy Prison Terms for Violent Crimes Including the Death of One-Year-Old Davell Gardner Jr.

Defendants Were Engaged in Gang War with Rival Street Gang;

Responsible for Three Murders and Six Shootings in Which the Victims Survived

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that three defendants variously convicted in a series of gang-related homicides and shootings, including the shooting death of Davell Gardner Jr., who was just 22 months old when he was shot and killed during a cookout in Bedford-Stuyvesant, have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms. A fourth defendant will be sentenced at a later date.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Today’s lengthy sentences must send a message to those engaged in gun violence that it will not be tolerated in Brooklyn. Senseless gang rivalries perpetrated by these defendants left six people injured and three people dead, including Davell Gardner Jr., who was shot in the abdomen. Little Davell never got to celebrate his second birthday. My heart breaks for his mother and father and all the families and victims affected by such devastating gun violence. I commend my prosecutors and the NYPD for their determination to bring these defendants to justice.”

The District Attorney identified the defendants as Travis Scott, 36, of Bedford-Stuyvesant; Dashawn Austin, 28, of Canarsie; Jayquan Lane, 31, of Bedford-Stuyvesant; and Akeem Artis, 27, of Bedford-Stuyvesant. The defendants were variously convicted of first-degree manslaughter, second-degree murder, and other charges (see defendant addendum) following a six-month jury trial before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun. The defendants were sentenced today by Justice Chun as follows: Scott was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison; Austin was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison; Artis was sentenced to 40 years in prison; Lane’s sentencing was adjourned to June 18, 2024.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, the defendants are members of a violent street gang known as Hoolies, primarily based in and around the Roosevelt Housing Development in Bedford-Stuyvesant. The evidence presented at trial showed that the reason for Hoolies to commit acts of violence include retaliation against rival gangs and to display the gang’s strength.

Between May 2018 and May 2021, the Hoolies territory included 721 Willoughby Avenue and 303 Vernon Avenue, as well as the New York City Housing Authority Roosevelt Houses development and the surrounding area from Kosciuszko Street to Pulaski Street in between Marcus Garvey Boulevard to Stuyvesant Avenue.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on July 12, 2020, Dashawn Austin was seen entering the passenger seat of an Audi driven by Akeem Artis that turned on to Madison Street, near a park where there was a cookout. Austin fired into the park, striking Davell Gardner Jr., 22 months old, who later died, and three other people. Austin was convicted of second-degree murder and Artis was convicted of first-degree manslaughter for that shooting death. Austin was convicted of three counts of second-degree attempted murder and Artis was convicted of three counts of first-degree attempted assault in connection with the other three innocent victims struck in the park shooting. Artis was also convicted of one count of second-degree attempted murder in connection with a June 24, 2020, shooting.

Furthermore, according to the evidence, on March 3, 2020, Dashawn Austin and Jayquan Lane entered the Kinanm Lounge on Atlantic Avenue where alleged gang rival Janile Whitted was in attendance. They followed him when he left the lounge, and Austin fired several shots into his chest at close range, killing him. Austin and Lane were convicted of second-degree murder in that shooting death.

Travis Scott was also convicted of second-degree murder for the December 4, 2018 shooting death of Tyree Walker, 35, who was not a rival, as he walked towards his home on Myrtle Avenue, and of second-degree attempted murder for shooting and paralyzing a 23-year-old man that same night.

The case was prosecuted by Executive Assistant District Attorney and Chief of Staff Nicole L. Chavis, Executive Assistant District Attorney for the Trial Division Joseph P. Alexis, and Senior Assistant District Attorneys Michael Diamond and Fabiola Marrufo, of the District Attorneys Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau.

DEFENDANT ADDENDUM:

Akeem Artis

• • Manslaughter in the 1^st
  • Assault in the 1^st – 3 counts
  • Attempt Murder in the 2^nd
  • Reckless Endangerment in the 1^st
  • Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2^nd – Intent
  • Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2^nd – Outside the home or place of business
  • Conspiracy in the 4^th

Jayquan Lane

• • Murder in the 2^nd degree
  • Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2^nd – Intent
  • Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2^nd – Outside the home or place of business
  • Conspiracy in the 2^nd
  • Conspiracy in the 4^th

Travis Scott

• • Murder in the Second degree
  • Attempt Murder in the Second Degree
  • Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2^nd – Intent ( 2 counts)
  • Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2^nd – Outside the home or place of business (2 Count)
  • Conspiracy in the 2^nd
  • Conspiracy in the 4^th

Dashawn Austin

• • Murder in the 2^nd(2 counts)
  • Attempted Murder in the 2^nd (3 counts)
  • Reckless Endangerment in the 1^st
  • Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2^nd – Intent (2 Count)
  • Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2^nd – Outside the home or place of business (2 Counts)
  • Conspiracy in the 2^nd
  • Conspiracy in the 4^th