Month: December 2022

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the unsealing of a 15-Count Indictment charging 14 members of the Double Nine Grim Reapers Bloods Gang (the “Grimz”), including the gang’s top prison and street leaders, with committing various racketeering, narcotics, and firearms offenses.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern.  

The Indictment charges several Grimz members and associates, including JEREMY WILLIAMS, a/k/a “Dubs,” and RANDY JONES, a/k/a “Nicklez,” two co-founders of the Grimz, with participating in a racketeering conspiracy.  The Indictment also charges several Grimz members and associates with acts of violence.  This includes JUSTICE JACKSON, a/k/a “Tweak,” TYRELL SIMON, a/k/a “Insane,” THOMAS RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a “Tom Tom,” and MARCUS CARDONA, a/k/a “D,” a/k/a “Honcho,” who are charged with the attempted murder and assault of a rival gang member in connection with a shooting that sent the rival gang member to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.  JUSTICE JACKSON, a/k/a “Tweak,” and MARKELL WILLIAMS, a/k/a “15,” are also charged with an armed robbery of a drug dealer in which shots were fired and an individual was hit.  In addition to serious acts of violence, the gang was also responsible for trafficking large amounts of narcotics across the City of Newburgh, New York, and New York State to enrich members of the gang. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Today’s indictment against 14 members of the Grimz gang includes myriad charges of violence and drug trafficking that typically accompany gang activity and inflict harm in our communities.  The charges brought today include two of the gang’s co-founders and are a significant step in the dismantling of this dangerous criminal organization.”

FBI Assistant Director in Charge Michael J. Driscoll said: “As alleged, the defendants conspired to use violence in order to further their narcotic-trafficking enterprise.  Their cold-hearted actions and disregard for human life bring havoc and fear to the streets of our neighborhoods.  The FBI’s Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force and our law enforcement partners work around the clock to keep our communities safe.  Violent criminals who aim to bring mayhem to our communities will be made to face the consequences of their choices in the criminal justice system.”

As alleged in public court filings and the Indictment unsealed today in White Plains federal court:[1]

JEREMY WILLIAMS, a/k/a “Dubs,” RANDY JONES, a/k/a “Nickelz,” JAMES WHITE, a/k/a “Infared,” PAUL AYALA, a/k/a “Mikey,” MESSIAH JACKSON, a/k/a “Two,” JUSTICE JACKSON, a/k/a “Tweak,” OCTAVIOUS GRIFFIN, a/k/a “Tate,” MARKELL WILLIAMS, a/k/a “15,” TYRELL SIMON, a/k/a “Insane,” a/k/a “Rello,” JOSHUA HENDRICKS, a/k/a “Hendrix,” ELIJAH BRIGGS, a/k/a “Eli,” SHAMELL WILLIAMS, a/k/a “Mello Trend,” THOMAS RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a “Tom Tom,” a/k/a “Checks,” and MARCUS CARDONA, a/k/a “D,” a/k/a “Honcho,” are members and associates of a racketeering conspiracy known as the Grimz.

On November 3, 2020, JUSTICE JACKSON, a/k/a “Tweak,” TYRELL SIMON, a/k/a “Insane,” THOMAS RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a “Tom Tom,” and MARCUS CARDONA, a/k/a “D,” a/k/a “Honcho,” for the purpose of maintaining and increasing their positions in the Grimz, attempted to murder and assaulted with a dangerous weapon a rival gang member and discharged a firearm in connection with that offense in the City of Newburgh, New York.

On November 10, 2020, JUSTICE JACKSON, a/k/a “Tweak,” and MARKELL WILLIAMS, a/k/a “15,” committed a gunpoint robbery of a rival drug dealer and discharged a firearm in connection with that offense in the City of Newburgh, New York.

In 2019, OCTAVIOUS GRIFFIN, a/k/a “Tate,” committed a gunpoint robbery of a rival drug dealer and brandished a firearm in connection with that offense in the City of Newburgh, New York.

On January 18, 2020, MESSIAH JACKSON, a/k/a “Two,” committed a gunpoint robbery of a rival drug dealer and brandished a firearm in connection with that offense in the City of Newburgh, New York.

On September 15, 2021, MARKELL WILLIAMS, a/k/a “15,” committed a gunpoint robbery of a rival drug dealer and brandished a firearm in connection with that offense in the City of Newburgh, New York

On October 31, 2021, JUSTICE JACKSON, a/k/a “Tweak,” TYRELL SIMON, a/k/a “Insane,” a/k/a “Rello,” and SHAMELL WILLIAMS, a/k/a “Mello Trend,” committed a gunpoint robbery of a rival drug dealer and brandished a firearm in connection with that offense in the City of Newburgh, New York.   

From at least 2018 to the present, JEREMY WILLIAMS, a/k/a “Dubs,” JAMES WHITE, a/k/a “Infared,” PAUL AYALA, a/k/a “Mikey,” MESSIAH JACKSON, a/k/a “Two,” JUSTICE JACKSON, a/k/a “Tweak,” OCTAVIOUS GRIFFIN, a/k/a “Tate,” MARKELL WILLIAMS, a/k/a “15,” TYRELL SIMON, a/k/a “Insane,” a/k/a “Rello,” JOSHUA HENDRICKS, a/k/a “Hendrix,” ELIJAH BRIGGS, a/k/a “Eli,” SHAMELL WILLIAMS, a/k/a “Mello Trend,” THOMAS RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a “Tom Tom,” a/k/a “Checks,” and MARCUS CARDONA, a/k/a “D,” a/k/a “Honcho,” participated in a conspiracy to distribute a substantial among of narcotics, including crack cocaine, heroin, Oxycodone, marijuana, and synthetic cannabinoids, commonly known as “K2.”  These individuals also possessed numerous firearms in connection with this narcotics conspiracy.

*                *                *

JEREMY WILLIAMS, 33, JONES, 34, AYALA, 30, SHAMELL WILLIAMS, 29, and RODRIGUEZ, 31, were all arrested yesterday and today and will be presented today before United States Magistrate Judge Paul E. Davison.  WHITE, 43, MESSIAH JACKSON, 22, JUSTICE JACKSON, 20, GRIFFIN, 35, MARKELL WILLIAMS 21, SIMON, 21, and HENDRICKS, 22, are already in custody on other charges.  BRIGGS, 25, and CARDONA, 24, have not been arrested at this time.

A chart containing the names, charges, and minimum and maximum penalties for the defendants is set forth below.  The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI’s Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force, New York State Police, Town of New Windsor Police Department, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, City of Newburgh Police Department, Town of Newburgh Police Department, and Nassau County Sheriff’s Office. Mr. Williams also thanked the FBI’s Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force, the New York City Department of Correction, Correction Intelligence Bureau, Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, the Poughkeepsie Police Department, and the New York City Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.

This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer N. Ong, Nicholas S. Bradley, and Ryan W. Allison are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

COUNT	DEFENDANT(S)	MIN. AND MAX. TERM OF IMPRISONMENT
Count One: Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering	JEREMY WILLIAMS RANDY JONES JAMES WHITE PAUL AYALA MESSIAH JACKSON JUSTICE JACKSON OCTAVIOUS GRIFFIN MARKELL WILLIAMS TYRELL SIMON JOSHUA HENDRICKS ELIJAH BRIGGS SHAMEL WILLIAMS THOMAS RODRIGUEZ MARCUS CARDONA	20 years in prison
Count Two: Attempted Murder and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering	JUSTICE JACKSON TYRELL SIMON THOMAS RODRIGUEZ MARCUS CARDONA	20 years in prison
Count Three:  Possession and Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence	JUSTICE JACKSON TYRELL SIMON THOMAS RODRIGUEZ MARCUS CARDONA	Life in prison; Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed
Count Four: Hobbs Act Robbery	JUSTICE JACKSON MARKELL WILLIAMS	20 years in prison
Count Five: Possession and Brandish of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence	JUSTICE JACKSON MARKELL WILLIAMS	Life in prison; Mandatory minimum of seven years in prison to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed
Count Six: Hobbs Act Robbery	OCTAVIOUS GRIFFIN	20 years in prison
Count Seven: Possession and Brandish of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence	OCTAVIOUS GRIFFIN	Life in prison; Mandatory minimum of seven years in prison to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed
Count Eight: Hobbs Act Robbery	MESSIAH JACKSON	20 years in prison
Count Nine: Possession and Brandish of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence	MESSIAH JACKSON	Life in prison; Mandatory minimum of seven years in prison to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed
Count Ten: Hobbs Act Robbery	MARKELL WILLIAMS	20 years in prison
Count Eleven: Possession and Brandish of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence	MARKELL WILLIAMS	Life in prison; Mandatory minimum of seven years in prison to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed
Count Twelve: Hobbs Act Robbery	JUSTICE JACKSON TYRELL SIMON SHAMELL WILLIAMS	20 years in prison
Count Thirteen: Possession and Brandish of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence	JUSTICE JACKSON TYRELL SIMON SHAMELL WILLIAMS	Life in prison; Mandatory minimum of seven years in prison to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed
Count Fourteen: Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances	JEREMY WILLIAMS JAMES WHITE PAUL AYALA MESSIAH JACKSON JUSTICE JACKSON OCTAVIOUS GRIFFIN MARKELL WILLIAMS TYRELL SIMON JOSHUA HENDRICKS ELIJAH BRIGGS SHAMEL WILLIAMS THOMAS RODRIGUEZ MARCUS CARDONA	Life in prison; Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison
Count Fifteen: Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime	JEREMY WILLIAMS JAMES WHITE PAUL AYALA MESSIAH JACKSON JUSTICE JACKSON OCTAVIOUS GRIFFIN MARKELL WILLIAMS TYRELL SIMON JOSHUA HENDRICKS ELIJAH BRIGGS SHAMEL WILLIAMS THOMAS RODRIGUEZ MARCUS CARDONA	Life in prison; Mandatory minimum of five years in prison to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed