Charged with 148 Counts, Including Murder, Attempted Murder and Robbery, Among Others
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney was joined by Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr., and Police Commissioner Rodney K. Harrison for a press conference on December 12 to announce the indictment of 18 alleged members of the “No Fake Love” (“NFL”) street gang, pursuant to charges contained in a 148-count indictment.
This long-term investigation covered 31 separate incidents, including the December 2021 murder of Jorge Mauricio Sevilla Barrera, six shootings, six armed robberies, the recovery of eight loaded handguns, as well as the grand larceny or possession of 15 stolen vehicles and seven French bulldogs.
“On my first day in office, we formed the Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau and the District Attorney’s Gang Violence Task Force to better protect the people of Suffolk County against gun violence and criminal activity perpetrated by gangs and criminal organizations,” Tierney said. “This long-term and in-depth investigation is exactly what I promised the people of Suffolk County. We will focus on gang violence using every law enforcement tool we possess and take a coordinated approach to ending violent gang activity. This case is the beginning of our work – not the end. If you’re committing violent crime in Suffolk County, we are coming for you.”
The District Attorney’s Gang Violence Task Force is a team of investigators, analysts, and assistant district attorneys (ADAs) from the District Attorney’s Office, the Suffolk County Police Department, and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department who are assigned to investigate and prosecute gang violence. The ADAs are from the newly formed Violent Criminal Enterprises (VCE) Bureau, a bureau formed by Tierney on January 1, 2022 to specifically focus on gun violence and other criminal activity perpetrated by gangs and criminal organizations operating in, and affecting, Suffolk County.
The District Attorney’s Gang Violence Task Force, working in conjunction with the VCE Bureau and law enforcement agencies throughout Long Island, uses every investigative strategy to build successful violent gang conspiracy cases against Suffolk County’s most violent offenders. These cases, like the one detailed herein, are designed to incapacitate these violent enterprises that endanger Suffolk County residents.
“This takedown is an example of collaborative police work at its finest,” said Toulon. “Working with the District Attorney’s Office and SCPD, the Sheriff’s Office was able to provide valuable intelligence that helped to apprehend these dangerous individuals. Gangs have no place in this county and, trust me, they are no match for the law enforcement agencies in Suffolk. We will continue to work together to keep our neighborhoods safe and get these bad actors off our streets.”
“This large-scale gang takedown utilized precision policing to target drivers of violence responsible for major crimes wreaking havoc on Suffolk County communities,” Harrison added. “I would like to commend detectives in the police department’s Gun Crime Reduction Unit for their persistence and dedication during this investigation, as well as thanking the District Attorney’s Office for their continued collaboration to hold felons accountable.”
In addition to the members of the District Attorney’s Gang Violence Task Force, Tierney also thanked the Nassau County Police Department, Riverhead Police Department, East Hampton Village Police Department, and the United States Marshals Service New York-New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force for their assistance in this investigation and takedown.
“The arrest of 18 members from the ‘No Fake Love’ gang after a lengthy investigation is a prime example of numerous law enforcement agencies working together in conjunction to continue their quest to ensure that all of our residents and neighborhoods are kept safe,” said Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder. “These defendants were involved in murder, shootings, robberies, carjackings and the recovery of eight loaded firearms, all of which placed our communities in danger. I would like to congratulate and acknowledge all of the investigators and their associated law enforcement agencies for their dedication, diligence and hard work which produced these arrests.”
“This is just another great example of how effective we are when we work together with our law enforcement partners to rid these heinous criminals from our communities here on the East End of Long Island,” said Chief David J. Hegermiller of the Riverhead Police Department. “On behalf of our residents and our department, I want to thank the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and the Suffolk County Police Department for their continued support and cooperation in helping us to bring these cases to fruition.”
According to the indictment, the defendants are allegedly members and associates of the NFL street gang, which is affiliated with the Crip and Blood street gangs. In early 2022, District Attorney investigators and Suffolk County Police detectives, in collaboration with members of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, Nassau County Police Department, Riverhead Town Police Department and East Hampton Village Police Department, began investigating a series of violent acts committed by members of the NFL Street Gang, whose members and associates pride themselves as “Everybody Killers.” Working with Assistant District Attorneys of the Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, over the course of the past 10 months, investigators have executed over 100 search warrants into residences, vehicles, and digital sources to gather evidence and intelligence about NFL’s members and associates.
It is alleged that, from October 2021 through the date of the indictment, NFL and their associates operated throughout Long Island, primarily centered in the Suffolk County communities of Mastic, Shirley, Bellport, and Riverhead. Members of NFL and their associates sought to establish geographical dominance throughout these communities by committing acts of violence. True to their moniker as “Everybody Killers,” members and associates of NFL allegedly participated in and agreed to commit criminal conduct, including murder, armed robberies, armed carjackings, larcenies and shootings against rival gang members, as well as innocent civilians.
It is alleged that, in order to accomplish this goal and to gain respect throughout the gang community, NFL members and associates took orders and reported criminal activity to high ranking incarcerated gang members, Keandre Hudson and Janell Johnson. During the course of these conspiracies, NFL members and associates stole or possessed 15 stolen vehicles, oftentimes at the direction and encouragement of Hudson and Johnson. These stolen vehicles were allegedly used by members of NFL to disguise their identity while transporting firearms and committing shootings.
Additionally, these vehicles were sometimes sold in order to purchase guns or otherwise fund the gang. In addition to stealing vehicles, members of NFL allegedly committed other larcenies including the July 24, 2022, theft of seven French Bulldogs to fund gang activities. The investigation culminated in a three-month grand jury presentation charging members and associates of NFL with six separate conspiracies, including conspiracies to commit murder, criminal possession of a weapon, robbery and grand larceny. The indictment further charges 31 separate criminal incidents dating back to October 2021, including one murder, six shootings, six armed robberies, and the theft or possession of 15 stolen vehicles.
Among the incidents charged are the following:
The Murder of Jorge Barrera: on December 5, 2021, at 2:52 a.m., in Farmingville, David Trent and an associate allegedly got into an argument with Jorge Mauricio Sevilla Barrera and others in a parking lot outside the Minx nightclub, located at 1075 Portion Road, in Farmingville. The argument turned physical and Trent pulled out a gun and shot Barrera. Trent and another individual then kicked Barrera while he was on the ground, before Trent stood over Barrera, allegedly shooting and killing him. Trent then got into a vehicle and fired multiple shots out of the vehicle, while the vehicle fled the scene. In addition to Barrera, two other victims suffered non-fatal injuries in the shooting. Trent is charged with Murder in the Second Degree and faces up to 25 years to life in prison for this incident.
Armed Carjacking and Robbery of Lyft Driver: on April 13, 2022, in Wading River Shati Roy, Jr., Corey Foggy and Trent allegedly ordered and got into a Lyft rideshare in Wading River. A short time into the trip, Roy reached over and repeatedly began striking the driver about the head and body. Roy and Trent then both each allegedly pointed guns at the driver’s head and stated to each other and the driver several times, “Shoot him! Get out of the car.” During this time, Foggy exited the vehicle and pulled the driver out of the vehicle, causing the driver to fall to the ground. Roy then jumped into the driver’s seat of the vehicle and began to drive the vehicle away with Trent in the back seat. Roy then pulled the dashboard mounted camera off the dashboard and threw it out the window. Members of the Riverhead Town Police Department responded shortly after and recovered the camera. The driver suffered lacerations to his forehead, head and knee as a result of this crime. Roy, Foggy and Trent are charged with Robbery in the First Degree. Foggy and Trent face up to 25 years in prison for this incident. Roy, due to his age, faces up to 3-1/3 to 10 years.
Armed Carjacking: On May 5, 2022, in Wantagh Trent, Romaine Hopkins and Mekhi Kennedy traveled from Suffolk County to Wantagh. At approximately 8:51 p.m., in the vicinity of Wantagh Avenue, Trent, Hopkins and Kennedy pointed a gun at a female victim’s head and forcibly stole her Mercedes-Benz sedan. The defendants then drove the stolen car back to Suffolk County. Trent, Hopkins and Kennedy are charged with Robbery in the First Degree for this incident and face up to 25 years.
Shooting of an Occupied Vehicle in Mastic: On May 28, 2022, at approximately 2:00 p.m., Trent and Taevon Bazemore allegedly acted in concert to fire multiple rounds into the windows of a vehicle occupied by alleged rival gang members. Bazemore and Trent are charged with Attempted Murder in the Second Degree and face up to 25 years’ incarceration for this incident.
Shooting of Home in Mastic, Nassau County Carjacking, and Shootout on June 4, 2022 At approximately 2:20 a.m., Trent and another individual allegedly fired multiple rounds into the windows and walls of a residence in Mastic. Later that day, at approximately 8:00 p.m., Trent, Foggy, Kennedy and Nisiah Jones traveled from Suffolk to Nassau County, where they allegedly robbed a male victim at gunpoint of a 2022 white BMW M340i in a Dairy Queen parking lot at 3095 Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown. The defendants then drove the stolen BMW back to Suffolk County. The same night, at approximately 10:15 p.m., Trent, Kennedy, Foggy and Jones allegedly engaged in a shootout with rival gang members at the intersection of Eleanor Avenue and Edgewood Street in Mastic, utilizing the BMW stolen hours earlier from Levittown. No individuals were injured in this shooting. On June 8, 2022, Trent and Foggy were arrested by SCPD officers in Brookhaven, when they were found with a white 2015 BMW 3 Series that had been stolen from East Hampton on May 17, 2022. At the time of this arrest, Trent and Foggy were allegedly found to be in possession of a loaded Taurus Luger .9 mm pistol, which was used in both June 4, 2022 shootings in Mastic. Trent, Kennedy, Foggy and Jones are charged with Robbery in the First Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree and face up to 25 years’ imprisonment for these incidents.
Burglary and Grand Larceny of Seven French Bulldogs: On July 24, 2022, at approximately 3:45 a.m., Marquize Pittman, Kennedy, and Walter Jones allegedly committed a residential burglary of a known dog breeder, where they stole six French Bulldog puppies and the mother of the puppies. The French Bulldog mother was recovered from a dog shelter. The six puppies have not been recovered. PIittman, Kennedy and Walter Jones are charged with Burglary in the Second Degree and face a maximum 15-year sentence for this incident.
Gun Possession: On October 7, 2022, in Wading River, investigators from the District Attorney’s Office, SCPD, and the Riverhead Police Department executed a search warrant at the residence of Matthew Walker in Wading River, recovering a loaded .9 mm Taurus Pistol. Walker, Jason Parker, and Kevin Cabrera were apprehended inside the residence. Walker, Parker and Cabrera are charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree and face up to 15 years’ incarceration for this incident.
Shooting of Two Victims Outside the Residence of Congressman Zeldin: On October 9, 2022 at approximately 2:20 p.m., Noah Green was allegedly driving a stolen 2022 Honda CRV in Shirley. While driving the vehicle, and in the vicinity of the residence of United States Congressman Lee Zeldin, Green allegedly shot out of the driver’s window at three rival gang members, striking two of them in the chest. The victims survived the shooting. Afterwards, Green boasted about committing the shooting to fellow gang members. On October 31, 2022, members of law enforcement were conducting surveillance pursuant to the ongoing investigation into the October 9, 2022, non-fatal shooting outside of Congressman Zeldin’s residence. At approximately 1:00 p.m., members of law enforcement observed Green exiting his residence in Shirley and entering the driver’s seat of the stolen Honda. At that time, members of law enforcement approached Green, who immediately exited the stolen vehicle and attempted to evade apprehension by jumping onto the hood and roof of a law enforcement vehicle, causing damage. Green continuously refused to comply with the officers’ commands and began reaching for his pants pocket where a loaded Taurus .9 mm pistol with a high-capacity magazine was recovered. A microscopic analysis of the pistol recovered from Green’s pocket showed that it was the same pistol used in the October 9th shooting. Green is charged with Attempted Murder in the Second Degree and faces up to 25 years in prison for the October 9, 2022 shooting incident.
Armed Carjacking: On November 24, 2022 at approximately 9:00 p.m., Jane Doe lured a male victim to an apartment in Hempstead. Once in the apartment, Cabrera brandished a firearm and beat the male victim about the face before stealing the keys to his vehicle. Cabrera then drove the vehicle back to the vicinity of his residence in Shirley. Jane Doe and Cabrera are charged with Robbery in the First Degree for this incident. CABRERA faces up to 25 years’ imprisonment for this incident. Jane Doe, due to her age, faces an indeterminate sentence of 3-1/3 to 10 years.
Ten of the 18 indicted defendants were taken into custody on Thursday, December 8, 2022. Seven of the indicted defendants were already being held in custody on other charges. During the execution of the arrest warrants on the same day, members of law enforcement recovered five additional loaded firearms from two separate residences. Overall, 17 of the defendants are currently in custody, and one remains at large.
Sixteen of the defendants were arraigned before acting Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Anthony S. Senft Jr., on Thursday December 8, 2022, and Friday December 9, 2022. Defendant Hudson is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday, December 16, 2022, before Judge Senft. Each of the arraigned defendants were held on high bail or remanded without bail.
The indicted defendants are as follows:
- Taevon Bazemore, 21, of Shirley faces a top count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree and up to 25 years.
- Kevin Cabrera, 17, of Shirley faces a top count of Robbery in the First Degree and up to 25 years in prison.
- Corey Foggy, 18, of Mastic faces a top count of Robbery in the First Degree and a sentence of up to 25 years in prison.
- Simone Feliz, 20, of Gordon Heights faces a top count of Conspiracy in the First Degree and up to 25 years to life.
- Noah Green, 18, of Shirley faces a top count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree and up to 25 years’ incarceration.
- Romaine Hopkins, 18, of Mastic faces a top count of Robbery in the First Degree and up to 25 years in prison.
- Keandre Hudson, 27, of Mastic faces a top count of Conspiracy in the First Degree and up to 25 years to life.
- Janell Johnson, 20, of Shirley faces a top count of Conspiracy in the First Degree and up to 25 years to life.
- Nisiah Jones, 21, of Mastic faces a top count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree and a prison sentence of up to 25 years.
- Walter Jones, 21, of Mastic faces a top count of Conspiracy in the Second Degree and up to 8-1/3 to 25 years’ incarceration.
- Mekhi Kennedy, 17, of Patchogue faces a top count of Robbery in the First Degree and up to 25 years.
- Jason Parker, 21, of Loganville, Georgia, faces a top count of Conspiracy in the Second Degree and up to 8-1/3 to 25 years in prison.
- Marquize Pittman, 22, of Mastic faces a top count of Conspiracy in the Second Degree and up to 12½ to 25 years in prison.
- Shati Roy Jr., 15, of Schenectady faces a top count of Robbery in the First Degree and up to 3-1/3 to 10 years’ incarceration.
- David Trent, 18, of Mastic faces a top count of Murder in the Second Degree and up to 25 years to life.
- Matthew Walker, 17, of Wading River faces a top count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree and a sentence of up to 15 years.
- Aamiya Williams, 23, of Shirley faces a top count of Conspiracy in the First Degree and up to 25 years to life.
- Jane Doe, of Hempstead faces a top count of Robbery in the First Degree and up to 3-1/3 to 10 years in prison.