8 Bronx Defendants Indicted In Connection With Drug Trafficking And Firearms Offenses

 

 Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Dermot Shea, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing of an indictment charging CARL WILBRIGHT, a/k/a “Brody,” TRAVIS BRECONIDGE, a/k/a “Jamaica,” ISAIAH FREEMAN, a/k/a “Oz,” LUIS GARCIA, a/k/a “Lu,” RICARDO GARCIA, a/k/a “Kika,” STANLEY HAMPTON, and JAMEL MURRAY with participating in a conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and marijuana.  WILBRIGHT and FREEMAN have also been charged with possessing firearms in furtherance of the narcotics conspiracy.  The Indictment further charges FREEMAN and QUASHAWN ESCALERA, a/k/a “Tank,” with being felons in possession of ammunition in connection with a shooting that occurred on September 26, 2019.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni.

Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “As alleged in the Indictment, the defendants are charged with narcotics trafficking and firearms offenses.  We thank our partners at the NYPD for their outstanding work on this case.”

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said:  “These federal charges enhance the NYPD’s precision policing efforts to combat a crew of alleged narcotics distributors.  I commend our partners in the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York for their sustained work in bringing this important case.”

As alleged in the Indictment unsealed last week in Manhattan federal court[1]:

From at least in or about 2018, up to and including in or about 2020, CARL WILBRIGHT, a/k/a “Brody,” TRAVIS BRECONIDGE, a/k/a “Jamaica,” ISAIAH FREEMAN, a/k/a “Oz,” LUIS GARCIA, a/k/a “Lu,” RICARDO GARCIA, a/k/a “Kika,” STANLEY HAMPTON, and JAMEL MURRAY, participated in a conspiracy to distribute 280 grams and more of crack cocaine and marijuana.

CARL WILBRIGHT, a/k/a “Brody,” LUIS GARCIA, a/k/a “Lu,” RICARDO GARCIA, a/k/a “Kika,” and JAMEL MURRAY were taken into custody last week and were presented before Judge Lehrburger. STANLEY HAMPTON surrendered yesterday and was presented before Judge Moses. TRAVIS BRECONIDGE, a/k/a “Jamaica,” QUASHAWN ESCALERA, a/k/a “Tank,” and ISAIAH FREEMAN, a/k/a “Oz,” remain at large.

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

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD.

The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit.  Assistant United States Attorney Christopher J. Clore is 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	CHARGE	DEFENDANTS	MAX. PENALTIES
1	Narcotics Conspiracy   21 U.S.C. § 846	CARL WILBRIGHT, 47 TRAVIS BRECONIDGE, 28 ISAIAH FREEMAN, 32 LUIS GARCIA, 24 RICARDO GARCIA, 28 STANLEY HAMPTON, 25 JAMEL MURRAY, 43	Life in prison   Mandatory minimum of ten years in prison
2	Firearms Offense   18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i) and 2	CARL WILBRIGHT	Life in prison   Mandatory minimum of five years in prison
3	Firearms Offense   18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(iii) and 2	ISAIAH FREEMAN	Life in prison   Mandatory minimum of ten years in prison
4	Felon in Possession of Ammunition   18 U.S.C. § 922(g)	QUASHAWN ESCALERA, 31	10 years in prison
5	Felon in Possession of Ammunition   18 U.S.C. § 922(g)	ISAIAH FREEMAN	10 years in prison

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment constitutes only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.