Danielle R. Sassoon, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the sentencing of DAIVON MORGAN, a/k/a “Leeky,” the last of 10 defendants to be sentenced in a case involving members of a street gang known as “ABG” in the Bronx, New York. MORGAN was sentenced to 292 months in prison for crimes relating to his membership in ABG, including the murder of 19-year-old Darren Scruggs in February 2019 and a slashing of a rival gang member in February 2021. MORGAN previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering and conspiracy to commit a violent crime in aid of racketeering on December 15, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil, who imposed the sentence. MORGAN was the last of the 10 defendants in the ABG case before Judge Vyskocil to have been convicted and sentenced.
U.S. Attorney Danielle R. Sassoon said: “ABG terrorized communities in the Bronx with violence and drug-dealing. Among ABG’s many victims were Darren Scruggs, who was gunned down at the age of 19 by members of ABG. The 10 ABG leaders and members charged in this case have now been convicted and sentenced for their crimes. We will continue to protect the public from gangs and the senseless violence they bring.”
According to the Superseding Indictments, public court filings, and statements made in court:
From at least in or about 2017 to in or about the present, ABG was a criminal enterprise centered in the Bronx, New York. ABG primarily operated in the vicinity of the Mitchel Houses in the vicinity of 135th and 138th Streets and Lincoln and Willis Avenues. In addition to their local affiliation, many ABG members also affiliated with the national Crips gang. In order to make money for the gang, protect the gang’s territory, and promote the gang’s standing, members of ABG engaged in, among other things, narcotics trafficking and violence, including murder. To that end, ABG members sold crack cocaine, promoted their gang affiliation on social media, possessed firearms, and engaged in shootings and slashings as part of their gang membership and narcotics trafficking. Among other crimes committed by the gang, ABG was responsible for the following acts of violence:
On February 18, 2019, ROBERTO ESPINOSA, assisted by HENRY JONES and MORGAN, shot and killed Scruggs.
On October 30, 2018, ELIJAH PERKINS shot at rival gang members. On August 21, 2021, PERKINS and AMIER WILSON participated in a shooting of rival gang members.
On March 25, 2022, WILSON carried out a shooting, which resulted in a victim being shot and injured.
On November 7, 2021, JONES, assisted by JUAN REYES, committed a shooting in rival gang territory.
On May 8, 2020, REYES, PERKINS, and XAVIER ARAU beat and slashed a victim in rival gang territory.
On February 20, 2021, MORGAN slashed a victim across the face at the direction of DAVID TRUSTY in rival gang territory.
A chart containing the names of the defendants, the charges they were convicted of, and the sentences they received is set forth below.
Ms. Sassoon praised the outstanding work of the New York City Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the New York City Department of Corrections.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Courtney Heavey, Christopher Brumwell, and James Ligtenberg are in charge of the prosecution.
Defendant | Age | Conviction | Sentence |
JONES, a/k/a “Dew Man” | 28 | Racketeering Conspiracy and Attempt to Commit Murder in Aid of Racketeering | 30 years |
MORGAN, a/k/a “Leeky” | 25 | Racketeering Conspiracy and Conspiracy to Commit a Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering | 292 months |
ESPINOSA, a/k/a “Taco” | 23 | Racketeering Conspiracy and Receipt of a Firearm Intended to be Used in a Felony; | 28 years |
WILSON, a/k/a “Smula” | 26 | Racketeering Conspiracy | 13 years |
TRUSTY, a/k/a “Saint” | 25 | Conspiracy to Distribute Crack Cocaine and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering | 12 years |
PERKINS, a/k/a “Eli” | 24 | Use of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence; and Use and Brandishing of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence | 162 months |
JAMIE WILKINS, a/k/a “OJ” | 26 | Use of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime | 78 months |
XAVIER ARAU, a/k/a “X” | 23 | Use and Brandishing of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime | 7 years |
REYES, a/k/a “Gunplay” | 27 | Conspiracy to Possess a Firearm Following a Felony Conviction and Conspiracy to Assault with Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering | 9 years |
CASSIUS MILLER, a/k/a “Cash” | 24 | Conspiracy to Distribute Crack Cocaine | 5 years |
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