Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Keechant L. Sewell, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging JALEEL SHAKOOR with racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, murder with a firearm, and illegal possession of ammunition. The charges relate to SHAKOOR’s murder of Gerry Mazzella on June 3, 2021, in the Bronx, New York. As alleged in the Indictment, SHAKOOR shot Mazzella in the back of the neck from point-blank range.
SHAKOOR, who was already in federal custody, was presented before Magistrate Judge Barbara C. Moses. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, the defendant committed a murder as part of his gang membership: he shot Gerry Mazzella from point-blank range, killing him. With these charges, we continue our daily work of investigating and prosecuting those who perpetrate these senseless acts. We hope this prosecution brings some measure of comfort to the victim’s loved ones.”
NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said: “This case is an outstanding example of what the NYPD and our law enforcement partners can accomplish when we strike back at the relatively few people responsible for spreading violence and fear in New York City. Together, we remain committed to thwarting gang activity in all its forms, and to reinforcing the severe consequences that await anyone who dares to jeopardize safety in our neighborhoods.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court:[1]
From at least 2020 to 2022, JALEEL SHAKOOR, a/k/a “Midnight,” was a member of the Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation (“Gorilla Stone”), which is a set of the national Bloods gang. Gorilla Stone operated primarily in the northeast United States, including in the Bronx, and in the jails and prisons of New York City and the State of New York.
Members of Gorilla Stone committed robberies and distributed controlled substances in order to enrich themselves. They also murdered and assaulted members of rival gangs and members of Gorilla Stone in order to resolve disputes within the gang. Gorilla Stone members promoted and celebrated the gang’s criminal conduct — including drug distribution, acts of violence, and firearms usage — on social media.
On June 3, 2021, in the vicinity of West 165th Street and Woodycrest Avenue in the Bronx, SHAKOOR shot Mazzella in the back of the neck, causing Mazzella’s death. SHAKOOR committed this murder to maintain and increase his position in Gorilla Stone.
SHAKOOR, 27, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of death or life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison; one count of murder through use of a firearm, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of death or life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison; and one count of possessing ammunition after a felony conviction, which carries a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison.
The minimum and maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentence will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD. He also thanked the Bronx District Attorney’s Office for its assistance.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[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.
No comments:
Post a Comment