Joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York City Police Department, Office of the Special
Narcotics Prosecutor, and DOI leads to arrests of 18 individuals on charges including narcotics and conspiracy
at NYCHA’s Sheepshead/Nostrand Houses
Mark G. Peters, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), today
announced the arrest of 18 individuals, including three New York City Housing Authority (“NYCHA”) employees,
and released a Report that revealed NYCHA’s continued failure to effectively enforce its Permanent Exclusion
policy for dangerous criminal offenders. The investigation also uncovered employees purchasing drugs from
tenants and targets of the criminal investigation and other misconduct at NYCHA’s Sheepshead/Nostrand
Houses. The Report was issued at the conclusion of a 16-month criminal investigation with federal and state law
enforcement partners into the Towaz Boyz gang, which resulted in 15 arrests on drug and conspiracy charges,
the arrest of one NYCHA employee for illegally facilitating access to a NYCHA apartment allegedly used in
narcotics sales, and arrests of two additional NYCHA employees for purchasing marijuana from a Sheepshead
apartment while on duty and in uniform. During the course of the investigation, DOI investigators discovered
NYCHA was fully aware that two of the defendants charged today had allegedly sold narcotics in NYCHA
apartments, lobbies, and stairwells, and had been Permanently Excluded from NYCHA property. Furthermore,
when NYCHA became aware that these defendants were still living in the NYCHA apartments in violation of the
Permanent Exclusion policy, the Authority failed to take further enforcement action to protect other
Sheepshead/Nostrand residents
DOI Commissioner Mark G. Peters said, “Today’s arrests highlight the inherent dangers of allowing
serious, recidivist criminals to continue to reside on NYCHA property. DOI’s Report demonstrates NYCHA’s
continued failure to exclude these offenders - disregarding its own policies and DOI’s repeated findings in this
critical area of safety. By defying its own policy of Permanent Exclusion, NYCHA is placing its residents at risk.”
“People deserve to leave their homes without fearing the drug dealers and violent gang members
loitering around their front doors. The FBI NY Metro Safe Streets Task Force and our partners the NYPD and the City of New York Department of Investigation worked closely on this investigation to stop illegal criminals from
disrupting people’s lives. We want this case and these arrests to serve as a warning that we will leverage these
partnerships to stop future gang members hoping to fill the void,” said William F. Sweeney, Assistant Director in
Charge of the FBI New York Division.
DOI’s investigation exposed significant vulnerabilities in NYCHA’s internal controls concerning
Permanent Exclusion, as well as misconduct by NYCHA employees, and alleged criminal activity by numerous
unauthorized NYCHA occupants, specifically:
Two of the defendants charged today, MATTHEW GERARD and JAMEEK BAKER, had previously
been arrested for selling crack cocaine at Sheepshead/Nostrand Houses, and BAKER had also
been charged with armed robbery. NYCHA Permanently Excluded them from public housing so that
their leaseholder relatives could remain living at NYCHA. NYCHA subsequently found both of these
defendants still living in the NYCHA apartments in violation of the Permanent Exclusion agreement,
but failed to take effective action to protect other Sheepshead/Nostrand residents from the ongoing
narcotics activity.
Eight additional defendants were residing in public housing or Section 8 apartments without legal
authorization and in violation of the lease terms.
DOI also arrested a NYCHA caretaker, SHAKINA ROWE, for illegally unlocking a NYCHA
apartment, after a court-ordered eviction, in order to enable individuals charged in this investigation
to access an apartment known to be used for narcotics sales, according to the charges. Two
additional NYCHA employees were arrested for purchasing marijuana while on duty and in uniform.
As a result of this investigation, DOI is re-issuing recommendations it has made in its two prior reports
concerning removing recidivist serious criminal offenders from NYCHA properties, including more aggressively
prosecuting tenancy cases against NYCHA leaseholders who participated in, knew or should have known, of
serious criminal activity being committed by criminal offenders, especially where the offender has already been
Permanently Excluded from NYCHA housing. The report also includes new recommendations, including that
NYCHA should conduct a comprehensive audit of all arrests referred by NYPD to evaluate NYCHA’s response.
Commissioner Peters thanked New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner James O’Neill
and the Brooklyn South Gang Squad, NYPD Captain Anthony Guadagno and Detectives Matthew Jagoda and
Robert Chan; Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
William F. Sweeney, Jr.; FBI Special Agent Neil Maxson; Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan;
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and Senior Executive for Law Enforcement Operations Gregory A.
Thomas; and City Department of Correction Acting Deputy Commissioner Antonio Cruz, for their cooperation
and assistance in this investigation.
Indictments and criminal complaints are accusations. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven
guilty
DOI is one of the oldest law-enforcement agencies in the country and New York City’s corruption watchdog. Investigations may involve any
agency, officer, elected official or employee of the City, as well as those who do business with or receive benefits from the City. DOI’s
strategy attacks corruption comprehensively through systemic investigations that lead to high-impact arrests, preventive internal controls and
operational reforms that improve the way the City runs.
Bribery and Corruption are a Trap. Don’t Get Caught Up. Report It at 212-3-NYC-DOI
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