Bloods Gang Member Sentenced to 40 Years’ Imprisonment for Double Homicide at Bay Shore Long Island Railroad Station

 

Lameek Everette and a Fellow Bloods Member Killed Two Long Island Residents During a Robbery

At the federal courthouse in Central Islip, Lameek Everette, also known as “La,” a member of the Bloods Street gang, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gary R. Brown, to 40 years’ imprisonment. On November 27, 2017, Everette was convicted of racketeering, including predicate acts of murder, robbery and attempted robbery.  Those charges stemmed from his participation in the September 2, 2016 murders of David Arzu and Janelle Curella, who were each shot by Everette during a robbery as the victims walked to the Long Island Rail Road train station in Bayshore, New York. 

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, William S. Walker, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Robert Waring, Acting Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), announced the sentence. 

“What started out as a robbery, turned into a double murder with the defendant pulling the trigger over and over to kill his victims simply because they resisted a holdup.  Today the defendant faced a reckoning for the devastating harm he has caused,” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “Gang members’ violent choices­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ will not go unpunished in our district.  The substantial sentence handed down today provides some measure of justice following the defendant’s senseless murder of a young man and woman whose families still grieve for the loss of their loved ones.  I hope it will also deter others from joining gangs and committing brutal crimes that terrorize our community.”

“Lameek Everette’s blatant disregard for human life was clear not only by the execution of two young victims in cold blood, but also by his decision to spend the remainder of his night at a local club,” stated HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Walker.  “While no amount of time or justice can bring back David Arzu and Janelle Curella, preventing future violence is of the utmost priority for HSI New York. We will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue violent street gangs and bring them to justice for the greater good of our Long Island community.”

FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy stated, “Lameek Everette personally appraised the lives of two innocent victims to be less than the potential value of their belongings. His callous actions demonstrate the senseless gang violence that can target random civilians. May today's sentencing reflect the FBI's unwavering commitment to eradicate all gang members threatening the welfare of our communities.”

“Gang violence has no place in Suffolk County, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable dangerous individuals like Everette whose plan for robbery escalated to murder,” stated Acting SCPD Commissioner Waring.  “I hope today’s sentence brings some sense of closure to the victims’ family and serves as a reminder we will pursue justice for all victims.”

At approximately 9:30 p.m. on September 2, 2016, David Arzu, Janelle Curella and two friends were walking towards the Bay Shore train station.  Unbeknownst to them, Everette and a fellow Bloods member had devised a plan to rob them at gunpoint, and were lying in wait for them.  When Everette and his coconspirator spied Arzu, Curella and their friends, they approached the group, brandished firearms and demanded the victims’ money and valuables.  Arzu resisted, and a struggle ensued.  When Curella attempted to come to Arzu’s assistance, Everette shot and killed her.  Everette then shot Arzu multiple times, killing him.  Everette later posted pictures of himself of Facebook, flashing hand signals that signified his affiliation with the Bloods and wearing a necklace he had stolen from Arzu when he murdered him.

Everette’s coconspirator in the robbery, Taheem Smith, was previously sentenced to 27 years’ incarceration for his role in the killings. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice program that brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of a renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.