A superseding indictment was unsealed today in federal court
in Brooklyn charging 17 members and associates of the Makk Balla Brims set of
the Bloods street gang with crimes related to their participation in a robbery
crew that used guns and violence to steal property over a nine-month period in
2017 in Queens and on Long Island. The
16 newly charged defendants were arrested today, and all but three will be
arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Steven M.
Gold. The remaining defendants, who are
incarcerated in state and federal facilities, will be arraigned on a later
date.
Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern
District of New York, William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge,
Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and James P.
O’Neill, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the
indictment.
“As alleged, members and their associates of the Makk Balla
Brims set of the Bloods committed numerous, violent armed robberies,
victimizing families in their homes and employees and patrons of local
businesses, including a barber shop,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “We are working tirelessly with our law
enforcement partners to ensure that our community is protected from the threat
posed by violent street gangs such as this one.” Mr. Donoghue expressed his grateful
appreciation to the Port Washington Police Department, Nassau County Police
Department and New York State Department of Corrections for their assistance
during the investigation.
“Members of this gang allegedly attacked innocent people in
their own homes, believing they could act without consequences,” stated FBI Assistant
Director-in-Charge Sweeney. “Our goal
when we open an investigation into violent gangs is to take out the
leadership. This case is a perfect
example of how we don’t stop simply by making a few arrests, we will continue
to investigate and track down all those involved in their criminal activity and
stop them from literally terrorizing a community in their lust for violence.”
“Targeting and dismantling criminal groups, and preventing
violence that is often associated with their illegal activities, continues to
be among the highest priorities for the NYPD and our law enforcement partners,”
stated NYPD Commissioner O’Neill. “I
commend and thank the attorneys from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern
District of New York for bringing this case forward, and the NYPD investigators
for their hard work to keep our communities safe and further reduce crime and
disorder.”
The Makk Balla Brims set of the Bloods is comprised
primarily of members residing in and around the South Jamaica Houses and the
American Towers in Queens. As alleged in
the indictment and other court filings, between May 2017 and December 2017, the
defendants participated in 11 robberies or attempted robberies, brandishing or
using guns during most of the crimes.
The defendants targeted individuals they believed would be in possession
of large amounts of cash, electronics, jewelry or narcotics. Upon receiving a tip about a promising
victim, the Makk Balla Brims would assemble a crew to carry out the robbery,
and the participants adopted various roles for the crime, including lookout,
getaway driver and gunman. Several of
the charged robberies are described below:
The Barber Shop Robbery
On September 23, 2017, Michael Miles, Shamel Simpkins,
Reshawn Smith, Kimberly Thompson and other co-conspirators robbed the Jevo
Barber Shop in Jamaica, Queens. Simpkins
chose the crew members, Miles was armed with a TEC-9 semiautomatic pistol and
Thompson drove the getaway car. Miles
and Smith entered the shop and removed gold chains, cell phones and cash from
the victims, as well as cash proceeds from the business.
Home Invasion and Torture
On September 29, 2017, Andre Barnaby, Brandon Darby and
Pierre Raymond broke into a home in Elmont, Long Island that they believed to
be a marijuana stash house, while Simpkins and Shawn Silvera remained in the
getaway car. Darby and Raymond wore
masks and brandished guns. They tied up
one victim with an extension cord and demanded marijuana and cash. When the victim stated that he did not have
marijuana, Raymond and Darby heated up a knife and repeatedly burned the
victim’s legs.
Home Invasion and Shooting
On October 11, 2017, James Roberson, Simpkins, Thompson and
other co-conspirators robbed a house in North Valley Stream, Long Island, where
they believed a jewelry store owner kept jewelry and cash. Roberson and several co-conspirators forced
their way into the house brandishing guns, and restrained the victim’s family
members using zip ties. Roberson shot
the victim in the stomach before fleeing with jewelry and electronics. The victim received medical treatment and
survived.
Targeting Homes with Outdoor Indian Flags
In at least two robberies, the defendants looked for homes
where Indian flags were flying because they believed the residents kept gold
and cash inside. Avery Mitchell posed as
a deliveryman wearing a United Parcel Service (UPS) jacket to enter a house, where
he and other co-conspirators restrained two young girls at gunpoint. Mitchell and the crew fled with electronics
and jewelry. On November 19, 2017,
Davis, Nahjuan Perry, Mitchell and other co-conspirators robbed a second house
where Indian flags were flying outside.
Mitchell again donned a UPS jacket as a ruse to gain entry, and shot one
resident before fleeing empty-handed.
Eleven defendants -- Andre Barnaby, Brandon Darby, Antonio
Davis, Michael Miles, Avery Mitchell, Nahjuan Perry, James Roberson, Shawn
Silvera, Shamel Simpkins, Rashawn Smith, and Kimberly Thompson -- are charged
with racketeering, including predicate acts of Hobbs Act robberies, robbery
under New York State law and related firearms offenses. Five additional defendants -- Matthew Elias,
Tyquan Henderson, Pierre Raymond, Latiff Thompson, and Lawrence Woods -- are
newly charged with Hobbs Act robbery and related firearms offenses. Constantin Cheese was previously charged with
Hobbs Act robbery and related firearms offenses in an underlying indictment.
If convicted, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum
sentence of at least seven years’ imprisonment and a maximum of life
imprisonment.
The charges in the indictments are allegations and the
defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s
Organized Crime and Gangs Section.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan E. Algor and Jennifer M.
Sasso are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants:
ANDRE BARNABY (also known as “Goonie Dre”)
Age: 27
Queens, New York
CONSTANTIN CHEESE (also known as “Cheese”)
Age: 31
Queens, New York
BRANDON DARBY (also known as “Barrack”)
Age: 28
Queens, New York
ANTONIO DAVIS (also known as “Big Blood”)
Age: 38
Queens, New York
MATTHEW ELIAS (also known as “Heddis”)
Age: 36
Queens, New York
TYQUAN HENDERSON (also known as “Gun Play”)
Age: 22
Queens, New York
MICHAEL MILES (also known as “Michael Davis” and “Menace”)
Age: 35
Queens, New York
AVERY MITCHELL (also known as “Slay”)
Age: 24
Queens, New York
NAHJUAN PERRY (also known as “Nas”)
Age: 24
Queens, New York
PIERRE RAYMOND (also known as “Leeky”)
Age: 21
Queens, New York
JAMES ROBERSON (also known as “Littles”)
Age: 24
Queens, New York
SHAMEL SIMPKINS (also known as “Sha Bang”)
Age: 32
Queens, New York
SHAWN SILVERA (also known as “Dum Out”)
Age: 26
Queens, New York
RASHAWN SMITH (also known as “Shawn”)
Age: 22
Queens, New York
KIMBERLY THOMPSON (also known as “Kimmy”)
Age: 23
Queens, New York
LATIFF THOMPSON (also known as “La Banga”)
Age: 30
Queens, New York
LAWRENCE WOODS (also known as “Lazo”)
Age: 33
Queens, New York
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