Six Members Of Bronx Crew Charged For Spree Of 2020 Violence That Killed Two People And Wounded A Third

 

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton; Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Ricky J. Patel; and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced a Superseding Indictment charging STORM JONES; MICHAEL ORTIZ, a/k/a “Dot”; RANDY MACCOW; MARIO MEDINA, a/k/a “Flacco”; JAYSON HOLLAND, a/k/a “Jerry,” a/k/a “Ninety”; and FRANCIS OFORI, a/k/a “Ghana,” in connection with two homicides and a third non-fatal shooting in 2020.  The charges relate to the August 2, 2020, killing of 53-year-old Clarence Adams; the September 1, 2020, murder of 29-year-old Jeffrey German; and the November 3, 2020, shooting of a third individual, who survived.  Each of the defendants was either in New York City or New York State custody and brought into federal custody, with the final two defendants arraigned in Manhattan federal court.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman.      

“As alleged, these defendants wreaked havoc across a Bronx neighborhood through a string of robberies and killings,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “New Yorkers want and deserve safe streets and those who pursue violence as a way of life will be brought to justice.”    

“As alleged, these defendants carried out their violent sprees with depravity, which resulted in the deaths of two victims and the near loss of a third,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel.  “However long it takes, HSI New York, the NYPD and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York will relentlessly target violent criminals to ensure no victims suffer in vain and the public remains as safe as possible.”

“These alleged Elsmere crew members carried out cold-blooded murders, violent crime sprees, and tried to dodge accountability—all while carrying illegal guns and illicit narcotics,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch.  “Two New Yorkers lost their lives, another was seriously injured, and entire communities were shattered by this violence.  The NYPD’s strategy is simple: to keep our streets safe, remove gangs from the equation—and that’s why we have carried out more than 50 gang-related takedowns and arrested almost 400 gang members this year alone.  I want to thank the NYPD investigators, HSI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their relentless work to make sure these defendants are brought to justice.”

According to the allegations in the Superseding Indictment, other court documents, and statements made during court proceedings:[1]

Beginning in at least 2020, a group of individuals (the “Elsmere Crew”) utilized the residence located at 804 Elsmere Place in the Bronx (“804 Elsmere”) as a gathering place to use narcotics, carry firearms, plan crimes of violence, and hide from law enforcement after committing those crimes.  On August 2, 2020, Elsmere Crew member JONES, while selling drugs several blocks from 804 Elsmere, shot 53-year-old Clarence Adams, who had confronted JONES about JONES’s drug dealing.  Adams died from his injuries.  After the shooting, JONES fled to 804 Elsmere, where he met with other members of the Elsmere Crew.

In fall 2020, JONES, ORTIZ, MACCOW, MEDINA, HOLLAND, and OFORI planned and carried out two similar robberies near 804 Elsmere.  In each robbery, members of the Elsmere Crew persuaded a victim to deliver marijuana to the vicinity of 804 Elsmere, left together from 804 Elsmere to the site of the purported drug purchase, confronted and robbed the victim with firearms, and fled to 804 Elsmere afterward.

JONES, ORTIZ, MACCOW, MEDINA, and HOLLAND committed the first robbery, in which they shot and killed 29-year-old Jeffrey German on September 1, 2020. ORTIZ and OFORI participated in the second robbery with other Elsmere Crew members on November 3, 2020, in which they shot a victim, who survived.

A chart containing the defendants’ names, ages, charges, and maximum penalties is set forth below.

The statutory maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI and the NYPD.

The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crimes Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael R. Herman and Patrick R. Moroney are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Count	Charge	Defendants	Maximum Penalty
1	Conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery  (Jeffrey German robbery and murder)  18 U.S.C. § 1951	STORM JONES, 26;  MICHAEL ORTIZ,   a/k/a “Dot,” 26;  RANDY MACCOW, 24  MARIO MEDINA,   a/k/a “Flacco,” 31;  JAYSON HOLLAND, a/k/a “Jerry,” a/k/a “Ninety,” 25	20 years in prison
2	Hobbs Act robbery  18 U.S.C. §§ 1951 and 2  (Jeffrey German robbery and murder)  18 U.S.C. §§ 1951 and 2	JONES, ORTIZ, MACCOW, MEDINA, and HOLLAND	20 years in prison
3	Murder through the use of a firearm  (Jeffrey German robbery and murder)  18 U.S.C. §§ 924(j) and 2	JONES, ORTIZ, MACCOW, MEDINA, and HOLLAND	Life in prison
4	Firearm use, carrying, and possession  (Jeffrey German robbery and murder)  18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c) and 2	JONES, ORTIZ, MACCOW, MEDINA, and HOLLAND	Life in prison
5	Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy  (Non-fatal shooting)  18 U.S.C. § 1951	ORTIZ and FRANCIS OFORI, a/k/a “Ghana,” 22	20 years in prison
6	Hobbs Act robbery  (Non-fatal shooting)  18 U.S.C. §§ 1951 and 2	ORTIZ and OFORI	20 years in prison
7	Firearm use, carrying, and possession  (Non-fatal shooting)  18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c) and 2	ORTIZ and OFORI	Life in prison
8	Narcotics conspiracy  21 U.S.C. § 846	JONES	20 years in prison
9	Firearm use, carrying, and possession  (Clarence Adams homicide)  18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c) and 2	JONES	Life in prison

 

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