OPERATION ZERO TOLERANCE: 29 FORMER AND CURRENT RIKERS ISLAND INMATES INDICTED FOR BRUTAL ASSAULTS IN THE JAILOPERATION ZERO TOLERANCE: 29 FORMER AND CURRENT RIKERS ISLAND INMATES INDICTED FOR BRUTAL ASSAULTS IN THE JAIL

Some Defendants Had Left Rikers, But Are Still Accountable for Violence There; Gang Members Attacked Other Inmates and Two Correction Officers in Four Incidents, One Inmate/Victim Needed 100 Stitches for Numerous Wounds 

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that 29 gang members have been indicted in attacks on fellow inmates and two New York City Department of Correction Officers in Rikers Island. 

   District Attorney Clark said, “Some of these defendants may have thought they were free and clear for crimes on Rikers Island because they had left there, but if you beat, slash or stab anyone while in jail we will arrest you, prosecute you and urge consecutive sentences if you’re convicted.

  “No one will escape justice for violence committed against inmates or staff. These defendants are charged with four separate incidents including disfiguring an inmate with multiple cuts, beating a Correction Officer who was protecting a slashed inmate, and attacking a rookie Correction Officer with a chair, fists and feet.

  “These indictments show that you will pay for such brutality.”

  Acting Department of Correction Commissioner Cynthia Brann said, “These arrests send a clear message: If you violently assault our hardworking staff or people in our custody, you will suffer certain consequences. Regardless of whether you have already been released, you will be prosecuted for any violent acts committed while in custody. We thank the Bronx D.A, the NYPD, the court, and our Correction Intelligence Bureau and Investigation Division for their work on these cases.”

  In a coordinated effort dubbed “Operation Zero Tolerance,” the defendants — members of the Bloods, Trinitarians, MS-13 and Folk Nation gangs — were brought before the court by the Bronx District Attorney’s Rikers Island Prosecution Bureau, the DOC Correction Intelligence Bureau and the NYPD Field Intelligence Investigation Unit. Nine of the defendants are currently incarcerated in state prison where they are serving sentences for various crimes, 13 defendants are currently in DOC custody, five defendants were arrested on felony warrants, one defendant is in federal custody and one defendant remains at large.

  District Attorney Clark said the defendants are variously charged in four indictments

  One of the indictments charges six men with first and second-degree Gang Assault, two counts of first-degree Assault, three counts of second-degree Assault, third-degree Assault, fourth-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon and second-degree Harassment. According to the investigation, on Oct. 20, 2016, the defendants attacked an inmate, causing multiple, deep lacerations to his face, arms and hands, requiring over 100 sutures

  Another indictment charges eight defendants with two counts of second-degree Assault and two counts of Obstructing Governmental Administration. According to the investigation, the defendants slashed an inmate in a housing area on Jan. 24, 2017.

  In the third indictment, six defendants are charged with three counts of second-degree Assault, third-degree Menacing, second-degree Obstructing Governmental Administration and fourth-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon. According to the investigation, on Feb. 20, 2017 the defendants covered a camera with peanut butter, put sheets over their heads and beat a rookie Correction Officer, striking him with a chair.

  In the fourth indictment, nine defendants are charged with four counts of second-degree Assault, two counts of third-degree Assault, two counts of second-degree Harassment, two counts of third-degree Menacing and second-degree Obstructing Governmental Administration. According to the investigation, on Nov. 17, 2016, the defendants slashed an inmate and proceeded to beat a Correction Officer when the officer got between the attackers and the victimized inmate.

  District Attorney Clark thanked the NYPD Field Intelligence Investigation Unit, DOC’s Correction Intelligence Bureau and Investigation Division, and Correction Investigators Anthony Scoma, Philip Lee, Anthony Marano, Epifanio Vasquez, Daniel Monaco, Timothy Fries, Omar Green, Cecil Phillips, Jeffrey Rios, Jason Gethers, Patricia Dockery, Victor Berrios, Wilson De los Santos, Scott Frank; Captain Johanna Banks, Deputy Warden Aisha Shannon, and Acting Deputy Commissioner Antonio Cruz; NYPD Detective Donniell Bright, Lieutenant Melody Robinson and Captain Wilson Ortiz of the Fusion Center (joint NYPD-DOC unit on Rikers Island) for their assistance in the investigations and the arrests. District Attorney Clark also thanked DA Squad Commanding Officer Lieutenant Javier Valentin, as well as Administrative Judge Robert Torres and Bronx Supreme Court Justice Robert Neary for facilitating the arraignments.

  An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

 DEFENDANTS ROBERT HAIRSTON, 30, DOC CUSTODY DAQUAN CANTY, 24, Brooklyn GAMARD TALLEYRAND, 28, DOC KELVIN JOHNSON, 21, STATE PRISON MALIK JOHNSON, 21, STATE PRISON KYLE DAVEY, 24, Queens NOAH ARANZAMENDI, 18, Manhattan JEFFERY SAPP, 20, Manhattan TISHAWN WASHINGTON, 21, STATE PRISON HIDALGO WILLIAMS, 22, DOC ISRAEL ORTIZ, 19, STATE PRISON SEBASTIAN ROGRIGUEZ, 20, Bronx MARQUISE FREDERICK, 21, STATE PRISON CARLOS PANIAGUA 19, FEDERAL CUSTODY LOUIS WAGNER, 24, DOC JOHN DOE NOT APPREHENDED JERMOINE FAISON, 23, STATE PRISON KENYAN JARVIS, 20, DOC KHALIL CHASE, 20, DOC NIUVAL VASQUEZ, 24, STATE PRISON JONATHAN DAVILA, 18, Bronx JOSE JIMINEZ, 21, DOC JEFFREY CASTILLO, 21, STATE PRISON JONATHAN MALDONADO, 21, DOC LUIS ZAPATA, 19, DOC JOSE TAPIA, 20, STATE PRISON RONNY ROCHA, 20, DOC CRISTIAN PAYANO, 21, DOC JESUS GONZALEZ, 20, Manhattan.