Some Defendants Had Left Rikers, But Are Still Accountable for Violence There;
Gang Members Attacked Other Inmates and Two Correction Officers in Four Incidents,
One Inmate/Victim Needed 100 Stitches for Numerous Wounds
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that 29 gang members have
been indicted in attacks on fellow inmates and two New York City Department of Correction
Officers in Rikers Island.
District Attorney Clark said, “Some of these defendants may have thought they were free
and clear for crimes on Rikers Island because they had left there, but if you beat, slash or stab
anyone while in jail we will arrest you, prosecute you and urge consecutive sentences if you’re
convicted.
“No one will escape justice for violence committed against inmates or staff. These
defendants are charged with four separate incidents including disfiguring an inmate with
multiple cuts, beating a Correction Officer who was protecting a slashed inmate, and attacking a
rookie Correction Officer with a chair, fists and feet.
“These indictments show that you will pay for such brutality.”
Acting Department of Correction Commissioner Cynthia Brann said, “These arrests send
a clear message: If you violently assault our hardworking staff or people in our custody, you
will suffer certain consequences. Regardless of whether you have already been released, you
will be prosecuted for any violent acts committed while in custody. We thank the Bronx D.A,
the NYPD, the court, and our Correction Intelligence Bureau and Investigation Division for
their work on these cases.”
In a coordinated effort dubbed “Operation Zero Tolerance,” the defendants — members of
the Bloods, Trinitarians, MS-13 and Folk Nation gangs — were brought before the court by the Bronx District Attorney’s Rikers Island Prosecution Bureau, the DOC Correction Intelligence
Bureau and the NYPD Field Intelligence Investigation Unit. Nine of the defendants are
currently incarcerated in state prison where they are serving sentences for various crimes, 13
defendants are currently in DOC custody, five defendants were arrested on felony warrants, one
defendant is in federal custody and one defendant remains at large.
District Attorney Clark said the defendants are variously charged in four indictments
One of the indictments charges six men with first and second-degree Gang Assault, two
counts of first-degree Assault, three counts of second-degree Assault, third-degree Assault,
fourth-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon and second-degree Harassment. According to
the investigation, on Oct. 20, 2016, the defendants attacked an inmate, causing multiple, deep
lacerations to his face, arms and hands, requiring over 100 sutures
Another indictment charges eight defendants with two counts of second-degree Assault
and two counts of Obstructing Governmental Administration. According to the investigation,
the defendants slashed an inmate in a housing area on Jan. 24, 2017.
In the third indictment, six defendants are charged with three counts of second-degree
Assault, third-degree Menacing, second-degree Obstructing Governmental Administration and
fourth-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon. According to the investigation, on Feb. 20,
2017 the defendants covered a camera with peanut butter, put sheets over their heads and beat a
rookie Correction Officer, striking him with a chair.
In the fourth indictment, nine defendants are charged with four counts of second-degree
Assault, two counts of third-degree Assault, two counts of second-degree Harassment, two
counts of third-degree Menacing and second-degree Obstructing Governmental Administration.
According to the investigation, on Nov. 17, 2016, the defendants slashed an inmate and
proceeded to beat a Correction Officer when the officer got between the attackers and the
victimized inmate.
District Attorney Clark thanked the NYPD Field Intelligence Investigation Unit, DOC’s
Correction Intelligence Bureau and Investigation Division, and Correction Investigators
Anthony Scoma, Philip Lee, Anthony Marano, Epifanio Vasquez, Daniel Monaco, Timothy
Fries, Omar Green, Cecil Phillips, Jeffrey Rios, Jason Gethers, Patricia Dockery, Victor Berrios, Wilson De los Santos, Scott Frank; Captain Johanna Banks, Deputy Warden Aisha
Shannon, and Acting Deputy Commissioner Antonio Cruz; NYPD Detective Donniell Bright,
Lieutenant Melody Robinson and Captain Wilson Ortiz of the Fusion Center (joint NYPD-DOC
unit on Rikers Island) for their assistance in the investigations and the arrests. District Attorney
Clark also thanked DA Squad Commanding Officer Lieutenant Javier Valentin, as well as
Administrative Judge Robert Torres and Bronx Supreme Court Justice Robert Neary for
facilitating the arraignments.
An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.
DEFENDANTS
ROBERT HAIRSTON, 30, DOC CUSTODY
DAQUAN CANTY, 24, Brooklyn
GAMARD TALLEYRAND, 28, DOC
KELVIN JOHNSON, 21, STATE PRISON
MALIK JOHNSON, 21, STATE PRISON
KYLE DAVEY, 24, Queens
NOAH ARANZAMENDI, 18, Manhattan
JEFFERY SAPP, 20, Manhattan
TISHAWN WASHINGTON, 21, STATE PRISON
HIDALGO WILLIAMS, 22, DOC
ISRAEL ORTIZ, 19, STATE PRISON
SEBASTIAN ROGRIGUEZ, 20, Bronx
MARQUISE FREDERICK, 21, STATE PRISON
CARLOS PANIAGUA 19, FEDERAL CUSTODY
LOUIS WAGNER, 24, DOC
JOHN DOE NOT APPREHENDED
JERMOINE FAISON, 23, STATE PRISON
KENYAN JARVIS, 20, DOC KHALIL CHASE, 20, DOC
NIUVAL VASQUEZ, 24, STATE PRISON
JONATHAN DAVILA, 18, Bronx
JOSE JIMINEZ, 21, DOC
JEFFREY CASTILLO, 21, STATE PRISON
JONATHAN MALDONADO, 21, DOC
LUIS ZAPATA, 19, DOC
JOSE TAPIA, 20, STATE PRISON
RONNY ROCHA, 20, DOC
CRISTIAN PAYANO, 21, DOC
JESUS GONZALEZ, 20, Manhattan.
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