Joint Federal and State Investigation Leads to Defendants Being Charged With Murder, Attempted Murder, Weapons Possession and Narcotics Distribution
A 32-two-count superseding indictment was unsealed in federal court in Central Islip charging three Bloods gang members, Dwayne Murray, Kendrick Seymore and Lavalle Wilson, with racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, attempted murder, various firearms charges and narcotics related offenses. Additionally, Murray is charged with the June 2020 murder of Wayne Cherry in Baywood, New York, and Seymore is charged with the July 23, 2021 murders of Nyasia Knox, Diamond Schick and Richard Castano in Farmingville, New York. The defendants are presently in custody and will be arraigned on the superseding indictment at a later date.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Raymond A. Tierney, District Attorney, Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office (SCDAO), James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Tommy Kalogiros, Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New York Field Office (ATF), announced the superseding indictment.
“This superseding indictment speaks loudly to this Office’s commitment to making our communities safer by holding ruthless gang members accountable for the murders, gun violence and narcotics trafficking they allegedly carried out on behalf of the Bloods,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “I commend our prosecutors and law enforcement partners for their tireless work dismantling gangs operating on Long Island.”
Mr. Peace also expressed his appreciation to the Suffolk County Police Department for their unwavering dedication to eradicating gang violence on Long Island.
“My office is committed to eradicating violent gangs and bringing prosecutions on both the state and federal level where appropriate. Joint prosecutions in serious cases with our federal partners better protects Suffolk County residents. I thank United States Attorney Peace, the FBI, and the ATF, for working together with my office and the Suffolk County Police Department to successfully collaborate on this significant prosecution,” stated Suffolk County District Attorney Tierney.
“These indictments demonstrate the collective commitment and investigative efforts between ATF NY and law enforcement partners, utilizing Crime Gun Intelligence to connect the dots between the many incidents of violence. Brazen acts of violence will never become acceptable to us. ATF NY is determined to root out the drivers of the deadly cycle of violence in our communities. We will continue to work tirelessly alongside our partners and appreciate the efforts of the ATF NY Long Island Field Office, FBI, Suffolk County Police Department and EDNY,” stated ATF Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Kalogiros.
As alleged in the indictment, the defendants engaged in numerous acts of violence on the gang’s behalf, including robberies, home invasions, and vicious shootings and murders. Specifically, according to the superseding indictment and statements made in court proceedings, on the evening of June 12, 2020, Murray fatally shot Cherry in the head in the backyard of a vacant home in Baywood. His body was found two days later.
Additionally, on July 23, 2021, Seymore and an accomplice, both of whom were armed with guns, entered Richard Castano’s apartment in Farmingville to rob him. During the course of the robbery, Seymore shot and killed Castano, as well Diamond Schick and Nyasia Knox, who were also in the apartment. A one-year old child was in the apartment at the time of the triple murder, but was left physically unharmed.
The defendants also used their membership in the Bloods street gang to distribute large quantities of narcotics in Suffolk County. In order to protect their supply of narcotics, and secure their ability to distribute the narcotics, the defendants possessed multiple firearms.
If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum of life in prison. Murray and Seymore face the possibility of the death penalty.
The charges in the superseding indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF
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