Three Defendants Responsible for Fatal Shooting Outside Mermaid Houses in Brooklyn
Four members and one associate of the West End Enterprise, a street gang based
in three apartment complexes in Coney Island, New York, will be arraigned this afternoon in
federal court in Brooklyn on an indictment charging them with crimes including murder in aid of
racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, unlawful use of firearms, witness tampering and robbery.
The 12-count superseding indictment relates to the defendants’ alleged criminal activities
between 2011 and 2017. The defendants, Tysheen Cooper, also known as “Billz,” Maurice
Washington, also known as “Moe” and “Flaco,” Sharod Liburd, also known as “Pop,” and
Gabriale Herbert are scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate
Judge Lois Bloom. The defendant Michael Liburd, also known as “Mike Mike” and “Mitty,” is
scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday, November 21, 2017, before Magistrate Judge Bloom.
Bridget M. Rohde, Acting 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), Mark G. Peters, Commissioner, New York City Department of
Investigation (DOI), and James P. O’Neill, Commissioner, New York City Police Department
(NYPD), announced the charges.
As detailed in the superseding indictment and other filings, Cooper, Michael
Liburd, Sharod Liburd and Washington were members of the West End Enterprise, a street gang
composed of individuals residing in and around the Sea Rise Apartments, the Gravesend Houses
and Surfside Gardens, also known as the “Mermaid Houses,” located in the western end of
Coney Island. During that time, Cooper, Michael Liburd, Washington and other coconspirators
allegedly engaged in narcotics distribution, witness intimidation and acts of violence, including
retaliatory shootings against members of a rival gang, known as “Sex Money Murder,” and the
January 17, 2016 murder of Antwon Flowers. Flowers was shot to death as he left an apartment
building in the Mermaid Houses development in retaliation for the murder of a West End
Enterprise leader, who had been killed in the East New York section of Brooklyn less than a day earlier. Herbert, Cooper and Sharod Liburd are also charged with a gun-point Hobbs Act
robbery.
“As alleged, the defendants and other members of their street gang have
subjected the residents of Coney Island to violent conduct, including murder, over a period of
years,” stated Acting United States Attorney Rohde. “The indictment sends a clear message that
this Office, together with our federal and local law enforcement partners, will use every available
resource to rid our communities of gangs, and the crimes they commit, by prosecuting gang
members to the fullest extent of the law.” Ms. Rohde extended her thanks to the Drug
Enforcement Administration for its assistance in the investigation.
“People usually think of Coney Island as a fun place to ride the rides, and have a
hot dog on the beach. The men charged in this case created a dirty underbelly in a family
oriented place, accused of murder, violence and criminal behavior,” stated FBI Assistant
Director-in-Charge Sweeney. “Not only did they allegedly commit these crimes, they did their
best to make sure no one would testify against them. These dangerous gangs don’t have a place
on Coney Island, or in any community, and the FBI won’t relent in pursuing cases targeting their
leadership.”
“Ridding drugs, gangs and violence from New York City public housing is
essential and this joint investigation resulted in just that,” stated DOI Commissioner Peters.
“Public housing tenants deserve what all New Yorkers want: a safe home for themselves and
their children. DOI is proud to work with our federal and city law enforcement partners to
expose and stop these crimes.”
The charges in the superseding indictment are merely allegations, and the
defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, the defendants
each face a sentence of life imprisonment.
The superseding indictment is the fifth indictment in the government’s ongoing
investigation into gang violence in Brooklyn’s Coney Island neighborhood.
The Defendants:
TYSHEEN COOPER (“Billz”)
Age: 26
Residence: Brooklyn, New York
GABRIALE HERBERT
Age: 20
Residence: Brooklyn, New York
MICHAEL LIBURD (“Mike Mike” and “Mitty”)
Age: 27
Residence: Brooklyn, New York
SHAROD LIBURD (“Pop”)
Age: 20
Residence: Brooklyn, New York
MAURICE WASHINGTON (“Moe” and “Flaco”)
Age: 28
Residence: Brooklyn, New York
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