High-Ranking “Ygz” Gang Member Sentenced To 45 Years In Prison For Murder Of 21-Year-Old

Kareem Lanier Also Sentenced for His Role in Three Additional Murders

  Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that KAREEM LANIER, a/k/a “Reem,” a/k/a “Black,” has been sentenced to a term of 40 years in prison, which must run consecutively to a prior prison sentence of five years, for his crimes as a high-ranking member of the “Young Gunnaz” or “YGz” gang, including murdering Dykeem Etheridge on January 24, 2011, and providing assistance to other YGz gang members in connection with three other murders.  LANIER was sentenced on Friday afternoon in Manhattan federal court by United States District Judge Valerie E. Caproni, before whom he previously pleaded guilty.

According to the charging and other documents filed in the case, as well as statements made during LANIER’s guilty plea and sentencing proceedings and other court proceedings in the case:

LANIER was a high-ranking member of a set of the YGz gang known as the “Morris Avenue Gunnaz,” which was based in and around Maria Lopez Plaza on Morris Avenue in the South Bronx.  From 2005 to 2017, members and associates of the YGz enriched themselves by committing robberies and by selling drugs, such as crack cocaine, and committed acts of violence, including murder and attempted murder, against various people, including rival gang members. 

On January 24, 2011, a group of YGz members, including LANIER, assaulted Dykeem Etheridge, 21, as he exited a store on the corner of 154th Street and Courtlandt Avenue.  LANIER shot and killed Etheridge as he tried to flee the attack.  LANIER later told a fellow gang member that he killed Etheridge in order to enhance his status in the YGz.

On July 3, 2011, LANIER and other YGz members rode on bicycles to the territory of a rival gang on Park Avenue near 158th Street in the South Bronx.  Their goal was to shoot and kill a rival gang member on sight, and LANIER went along to support and encourage the other YGz members.  A member of the YGz shot at a rival gang member, who survived the shooting.  While LANIER and others were fleeing from the scene of the shooting, LANIER’s associate shot Curtis Smith, 23, a bystander, in the head.  Smith died several days later.          

On October 17, 2011, LANIER provided a firearm to a fellow YGz member, who then used the firearm in a shootout with members of a rival gang that resulted in the death of Devon Jackson, 16, in the vicinity of East 146th Street between Third and Collect Avenues in the Bronx.

On December 22, 2011, after several YGz members murdered Taisheem Ferguson, 17, near Morris Avenue and 151st Street in the Bronx, LANIER helped two of the participants in the murder flee from the scene by hailing and paying for a taxi cab so that they would escape before the police could catch them. 

LANIER, 26, of the Bronx, is the eighth defendant to be sentenced this year by Judge Caproni for participation in a YGz-related murder.

Acting U.S. Attorney Kim praised the outstanding work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the New York City Police Department in the investigation of this case.  He also thanked the Bronx District Attorney’s Office for their support in this case.

Three Men Charged In Federal Court With Narcotics Offenses Relating To 13 Kilograms Of Cocaine And Nearly 19,000 Envelopes Of Heroin In Yonkers

  Joon H. Kim, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, James J. Hunt, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division (the “DEA”), and Charles Gardner, Yonkers Police Department Commissioner (the “YPD”), announced today the arrest of ANSLEY R. ESTRELLA, RONALD E. LEON, and LUIS OSCAR REYES relating to 13 kilograms of cocaine and nearly 19,000 glassines of heroin in a house in Yonkers.  ESTRELLA, LEON, and REYES were all charged Friday in a complaint with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and more than one kilogram of heroin.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said:  “After receiving a call about suspicious activity near a house in suburban Yonkers, responding officers allegedly discovered massive quantities of cocaine and heroin, as well as drug paraphernalia, in that home.  We commend our law enforcement partners for their swift and effective response to this potentially dangerous situation, and the citizens who notified them when something just didn’t look right.  Citizens can play an important role in keeping dangerous drugs, including opioids, off our streets.”

DEA Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt stated:  “A Parent’s worst fear is a heroin dealer setting up shop next door.   This case is a reminder that drug traffickers’ greed outweighs the safety of their neighbors. Law enforcement is committed to keeping a vigilant eye out for drug dealers like these whose trafficking encourages heroin abuse, crime and drug related violence, allegedly.”

Yonkers Police Commissioner Charles Gardner said:  “A thorough investigation conducted by the responding Yonkers police officers resulted in the discovery of a large scale narcotics distribution operation and the arrest of three individuals.  We are working with our federal law enforcement partners on the follow-up investigation and the prosecution of these males.  I would like to thank the U.S Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Attorney’s office for their support and invaluable assistance.”

According to the allegations made in the Complaint:[1]

On the evening of December 7, 2017, YPD officers received a call indicating that three men had pushed a fourth man into a house in Yonkers, New York.  YPD officers responded to the house, and saw ESTRELLA walk out of the house.  The man said he lived in the house with his girlfriend, and that nobody was in the house.  The officers could see – through the closed shades – silhouettes of people moving inside the house.  Nonetheless, the man repeated that nobody was in the house.

As YPD officers approached the open front door, they saw REYES, with a surgical mask on, and then LEON, also with a surgical mask on, who had blood on his face.  The YPD officers entered the house, where LEON denied being hurt.

YPD officers walked through the house to see if there were any additional people committing an ongoing crime or if there were victims in the house.  In a room on the second floor, they found white powder, respiratory masks, and, in an open closet, a large number of glassine envelopes and scales.

In the garage, a YPD officer found a car with an open shopping bag, in which the YPD Officer could see what appeared to be bundles of decks of heroin.

The YPD officers placed ESTRELLA, LEON, and REYES under arrest.  LEON had keys in his possession for the car in the garage.

The YPD obtained and executed a search warrant and did a full search of the house and the car in the garage, as well as two other cars.  During that search, the YPD found, among other things, 13 kilogram-sized bricks of cocaine, 18,598 glassine envelopes containing heroin, 813 tan pills stamped “M30,” a number of plastic bags and clear knotted twists containing white chunky substances, a scale, five small grinders, assorted stamp pads and stamps, a metal kilogram press, and a money-counting machine.

The Complaint charges each of ESTRELLA, LEON, and REYES with one count of narcotics conspiracy, and one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and aiding and abetting the same.

Mr. Kim thanked the DEA and YPD for their outstanding work on the investigation.

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

 

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

NEW TOOL TO COMBAT HOMELESSNESS: MAYOR DE BLASIO MOVES TO CONVERT CLUSTER BUILDINGS INTO PERMANENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES

City will help non-profit developers acquire and rehab cluster sites; will use eminent domain if necessary

  Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced that the City will help not-for-profit developers acquire and rehab residential “cluster site” buildings, currently used to house homeless families, and convert them into permanent affordable housing in a historic move to address the homelessness crisis in New York City. If negotiations to buy cluster site buildings are not successful, the City will use eminent domain to acquire them.

Over the past 17 years, New York City has used the cluster site program to provide shelter for homeless families, a practice that the de Blasio Administration committed to ending last February as part of its Turning the Tide on Homelessness in New York City plan. 

“Our city’s homelessness crisis wasn’t created overnight and it won’t be solved overnight. It requires us to come up with creative and bold new strategies to help those on the street and those in need of shelter and affordable permanent housing,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “This initiative will transform dozens of dilapidated temporary apartments into quality, permanently affordable homes. The effort is a clear sign that we will go to any length necessary to help our neighbors get back on their feet.”

To implement Turning the Tide, the City is using a new tool to end the 17-year-old cluster site program through negotiated resolution or use of eminent domain. The de Blasio Administration is financing the acquisition of cluster buildings by trusted locally-based not-for-profit developers, who will rehabilitate them working with the City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development, creating affordable housing for homeless families and returning rent-stabilized units to market while utilizing a new strategy to end the use of cluster apartments for homeless families. The new owners will enter a regulatory agreement with HPD to ensure the long-term affordability of the cluster apartments as housing for homeless families and other low-income New Yorkers.

During this transition, the cluster apartments will continue to be operated as shelter for New Yorkers experiencing homelessness with funding and services provided by the City’s Department of Homeless Services. Homeless families residing at these locations who are prepared for housing permanency at the point of transition to not-for-profit ownership will be offered the opportunity to remain as tenants with a new rent-stabilized lease if they wish to remain in the building. All non-homeless tenants living in a cluster building at the time of purchase will also be given a new rent-stabilized lease that offers additional protections under HPD’s regulatory agreement.

The City has so far identified 25 to 30 cluster site buildings that qualify. Only buildings where 50 percent or more of apartments are cluster apartments will be considered. The targeted buildings are home to approximately 800 homeless families and 300 other tenants––meaning this group of properties will create over 1,100 permanent and affordable homes.

“Being in charge of the health and wellbeing of 8.5 million New Yorkers is no small task and as a physician, a public health practitioner and as a mother, I know how important having a permanent home is to a family,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Herminia Palacio. “Removing the uncertainty of housing can strengthen the health of a family and stabilizing families leads to stronger communities. Through this unprecedented step we will further support the many hardworking mothers and fathers who strive to make secure lives for their families. Thank you Mayor de Blasio for keeping us focused on homelessness, and for continuing to challenge us to be creative in our approach towards solving this crisis.”

“Addressing a crisis decades in the making demands aggressive action that leaves no stone unturned. As we end the Giuliani-era cluster program, already reducing citywide use by more than a third, this strategy is part of our commitment to using every tool at our disposal to help New Yorkers in need get back on their feet—while also creating permanent housing for homeless families and preserving affordability for thousands of New Yorkers for years to come,” said Department of Social Services Commissioner Steven Banks. “Today’s announcement should make crystal clear that we mean business, moving forward on every front to phase out this 17-year-old stop-gap measure once and for all in our mission to better serve homeless New Yorkers and all New Yorkers.”

“HPD is working to create and preserve affordable housing at record pace, setting aside more homes for homeless families, and introducing new tools to protect tenants and keep them in their homes and neighborhoods,” said Department of Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Maria Torres-Springer. “This latest initiative with DSS will convert many of the remaining cluster buildings into permanent affordable housing and place the properties in the capable hands of trusted, locally-based non-profit partners, ensuring their quality and affordability for current and future families.  Solving the homelessness crisis means all options must be on the table and we are committed to working with DSS and many partners on this bold strategy to ensure homeless families and low-income New Yorkers have safe and secure homes.”

Since January 2016 when the City was using a high-point of approximately 3,600 cluster units and first announced its intention to end the cluster site program, the City’s Department of Homeless Services has reduced the citywide use of cluster apartments to shelter homeless families by more than 35 percent using multiple strategies. That included closing nearly 1,100 cluster units and counting, more than 600 of which were in the Bronx, where the vast majority of clusters have been historically located. In addition, the City has converted about 300 units across seven cluster site locations into State-licensed shelters operated by not-for-profit homeless services providers.

In January 2016, the City was managing 3,650 cluster apartments across the five boroughs. As of December 4, 2,272 homeless families remain in cluster sites. 

DHS Commissioner Steve Banks goes into more details of what this means to the homeless families in these 25 - 30 buildings the city wants to take over, and have non profits fix up and run.

MAN INDICTED ON FIRST-DEGREE MURDER CHARGES IN RAPE AND STRANGULATION OF TEEN IN 2000

Defendant Extradited From Florida After DNA Matched To Him This Year

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a man has been indicted for first-degree Murder in the rape and strangulation of a young Bronx woman 17 years ago. 

  District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant allegedly raped and then strangled the victim with a telephone cord, leaving her to be found dead by her family. This tragic case is a reminder that “cold” cases are not forgotten and we will pursue justice no matter how long it takes. I hope this victim’s family can get a measure of closure.” 

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Christopher Gonzalez, 36, of Naples, Florida, was indicted on two counts of first-degree Murder and three counts of second-degree Murder. He was arraigned today before Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas. He was remanded and is due back in court on March 12, 2018. If convicted of the top charges, he faces up to life in prison without parole. 

 According to the investigation, on December 2, 2000, inside an apartment building on East 180th Street, the defendant allegedly raped and then strangled Dora Del Valle, 19, with a telephone cord. The teen, who was house-sitting for her hospitalized uncle, was later found dead by family members. A fingerprint and significant DNA evidence collected at the scene was matched to the defendant this year. The defendant was extradited from Florida on December 8, 2017.

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

Statement from Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeff Klein Re: Bomb Blast

This act of terror, meant to spread fear throughout our subway system, will never stop New Yorkers in their tracks. The people of this city are incredibly resilient, brave and vigilant. We live in a city that is a beacon of democracy and we will proudly carry on with our daily routines because we know that is the best foil to those who hate our way of life. My thoughts are with the families of those who suffered injuries. I commend the NYPD, the FDNY, the PAPD, EMS and every first responder for their effective response to this incident.

HOUSING 2.0: MAYOR DE BLASIO LIFTS AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP

Part of new 300,000 affordable housing plan; “Open Door” and “HomeFix” will help 2,100 families own a piece of the Big Apple, fix their homes

  Mayor Bill de Blasio detailed two new programs that will help New Yorkers achieve and maintain the American Dream – owning their own home. Open Door aids first-time homeowners buy a condo or coop, and HomeFix helps New Yorkers make capital improvements to their homes. These two programs will reach at least 2,100 households in eight years.

“As we work to make this a fairer and better city, we want to help New York’s working families own a piece of their own city. Affordable homeownership empowers families and neighborhoods and opens pathways to the middle class,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

The 2,100 goal builds on the nearly 10,000 homeownership projects financed by the City since 2014, many of them Mitchell-Lama cooperatives. The housing plan anticipates creating or preserving 20,000 homeownership opportunities by 2026. Owning a home helps families build assets that can help fund a college education and retirement. But for many, the dream of homeownership and home maintenance seems impossible.

“Homeownership is a critical ladder to greater financial security for families, and a stabilizing anchor for neighborhoods. Through these new programs, more New Yorkers will have a shot at owning a piece of their city, and making the repairs they need to stay in their homes and communities,” saidHPD Commissioner Maria Torres-Springer.  “I want to thank the Mayor and all our partners for their work to make the dream of homeownership a reality for more of our working families.”

Along with the Neighborhood Pillars program, the Mitchell-Lama Reinvestment Program, and Seniors First, Open Door and HomeFix are among a suite of new initiatives announced as part of the Mayor’s plan to accelerate the creation and preservation of affordable housing across New York City. The Mayor’s new plan, Housing New York 2.0, will finance 200,000 affordable homes by 2022 and 300,000 by 2026, enough to house the entire population of Boston.

The new homeowner assistance programs are:

Open Door: A financing program that incentivizes the construction of coops and condos for moderate- and middle-income first-time homebuyers. The program will create approximately 200 affordable homes a year, and 1,300 by 2026.  

HomeFix: A home repair program provides financing to low- and moderate-income homeowners by offering low-interest loans to fund needed repairs in one- to four-family properties. HomeFix will serve approximately 100 households a year, and 800 over the next 8 years. The program offers financial counseling.

Most of the nearly 10,000 homes financed since 2014 have had their affordability extended and rehabilitation financed, particularly in Mitchell-Lama coops.  The City is redoubling its commitment to saving the remaining Mitchell-Lamas and other existing homeownership opportunities, and will seek to preserve another 8,000 homes over the extended 12-year plan.

STATEMENT FROM BP DIAZ RE: Terror Attack in Times Square Subway

  “The people of New York City remain united against terror. While today’s attack on our subway system reinforces our need to be vigilant, it will not break our resolve to live our lives as we see fit.  No cowardly attack can change the core of who we are as New Yorkers.

“I especially want to thank our first responders, including the New York City Police and Fire Departments, Port Authority Police Department and the MTA Police Department, for everything they do on a daily basis to keep our city safe and secure,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

EXPLOSION AT PORT AUTHORITY BUS TERMINAL Information Session

Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill: At 7:20 am, approximately, 7:20 am this morning, we had terror related incident in the subway, in the passageway between 42nd and Eight, and 42nd and Seventh. The Governor is going to speak. The Mayor is going to speak. I’m going to give you some more details.

Governor Andrew Cuomo: Thank you, good morning to everyone. The first news this morning was obviously very frightening and disturbing. When you hear about a bomb in the subway station, which is in many ways one of our worst nightmares, the reality turns out better than the initial expectation and fear.

You had a number of law enforcement agencies that did a fantastic job. The NYPD, the PAPD, the Port Authority Police, the MTA Police, they were all on it. You see behind us representatives of all the agencies coordinated. The Assistant Director of the FBI, Bill Sweeney, is here. So everyone worked together.

There was an explosion. The Police Commissioner will go over the details. It was a minor – it was an effectively low tech device. There were several injuries, we hope minor, and it was handled extraordinarily well. There was a disruption in train service and bus service while a sweep was being done, that’s all being restored now, as you will hear from Joh Lhota. The subway station – subway service, except at 42nd Street is being restored. The Port Authority Bus Terminal is re-opened, so buses will be running once again.

This is New York. The reality is that we are a target by many who would like to make a statement against democracy, against freedom. We are the Statue of Liberty in our harbor. And that makes us an international target, we understand that. With the internet now, anyone can go on the internet, and download garbage and vileness on how to put together an amateur level explosive device, and that is a reality that we live with. The counter-reality is that this is New York, and we all pitch together, and we are a savvy people, and we keep our eyes open. And that’s what see something, say something is all about. And we have the best law enforcement on the globe. And we are all working together extraordinarily well. 

I want to thank the Mayor and the Mayor’s Office for doing a great job this morning and we will go forward, and we will go forward together. All the service will resume. Let’s go back to work. We are not going to allow them to disrupt us. That’s exactly what they want and that is exactly what they’re not going to get. 

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Thank you very much Governor. Let’s be clear, as New Yorkers, our lives revolve around the subways. When we hear of an attack on the subway, it’s incredibly unsettling. And let’s be also clear, this was attempted terrorist attack. Thank God the perpetrator did not achieve his ultimate goals. Thank God our first responders were there so quickly to address the situation, to make sure people were safe. Thank God the only injuries, that we know at this point, were minor.

But I agree 100 percent with the Governor’s point. The choice of New York is always for a reason. Because we’re beacons to the world and we actually show that society of many faiths and many backgrounds can work, and we showed that democracy can work. And our enemies want to undermine that, the terrorist want to undermine that, so they yearn to attack New York City. But New York City is blessed with the finest law enforcement, and what our first responders did today was another example the ability to assess a situation quickly, contain it, and make sure people are safe.

Let me just say, it’s very important for my fellow New Yorkers to know. There are no additional known instance at this time, there are no additional known activities. We will wait for a fuller investigation, of course, by the NYPD, the MTA police, the Port Authority police, and the FBI, but at this point in time, all we know of is one individual, who thank God was unsuccessful in his aims. There are also no credible and specific threats against New York City at this time. But we will give you more information, of course, as the investigation unfolds.

The first responders responded brilliantly. Now the mission of the NYPD is to secure all major transit hubs and major sites in this city. So you will see expanded NYPD presence today all over the city. New Yorkers have come to understand when you see our specialized forces, when you see those long guns, and those highly trained officers, that’s something that should be reassuring to you. That means that the NYPD is on full alert and out in force and that means you are safe. 

Finally I want to say, the Governor invoked that phrase, we can’t say it enough times, when you see something, say something. This is the difference maker. We’ve seen it time and again. When an everyday New Yorker sees something that doesn’t make sense, hears something, sees a package, gets a feeling that something’s wrong. Don’t hold it yourself, tell a police officer. They are the ones who can take the information and act on it. It is so important to speak up because you could be saving many lives by doing so.

I’ll finish by saying this. This is most resilient place on Earth, we’ve proven it time and time again. We’ve proved it just over a month ago. We proved it on 9/11. We are going to prove it again today. The terrorists will not win, we are going keep being New Yorkers. Let’s get back to work. Thank you.

Commissioner O’Neill: Alright these are the preliminary facts. So – just – it just happened a couple hours ago, so you have to understand these are preliminary facts. At approximately 7:20 am, at a below ground walkway, which connects the IND line at 4-2 and Eight Avenue with the IRT line at 4-2 and seven, and that’s the shuttle at Time Square and the 1,2,3 train.

Police were called to a reported explosion. Responding units found an injured 27-year-old male. We’ve identified him as Akayed Ullah, A-K-A-Y-E-D-U-L-L-A-H. He had burns and wounds to his body. Preliminary investigation at the scene indicates this male was wearing an improvised, low-tech explosive device attached to his body. He intentionally detonated that device. Looks like that there were three other people in the immediate area also sustain minor injuries, but Dan Nigro is going to talk about that. The subject was placed in custody and transported to Bellevue Hospital.

Immediate police response to the scene included members of the Transit Bureau, Emergency Service Decision, Bomb Squad, Counter-Terrorism, MTA Police, State Troopers, and the FBI’s Joint Terrorist Taskforce.  In addition, the NYPD Strategic Response Group and Critical Response Command, were assigned to other key transportation hubs and other locations throughout the city as a precautionary measure.

This incident was captured on transit system video. A further review and interviewing witnesses is under way, a thorough background investigation Akayed Ullah is being conducted by the Joint Terrorist Taskforce. We are asking anyone who may have any information about this individual or incident to call the terror headline, and that’s, 8-8-8-NYC-SAFE.

Just as the Governor said, and as the Mayor said, we are New Yorkers, we don’t live in fear. If you see something doesn’t look right ,you have an obligation to come forward, call 9-1-1, flag down a cop, and give us a chance to investigate it. 

Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro:  As the Police Commissioner mentioned the perpetrator detonated the device, it caused burns to the hands and the abdomen, also lacerations. Our EMS personnel removed the perpetrator to Bellevue Hospital where they’re being treated now. Three other people that were in proximity of the explosion removed themselves. Two of them took themselves to Mt. Saini West, one to Mt. Saini Queens. All with minor injuries that are consistent with being in the area of the explosion. That is ringing in the ears and headaches. So we have three minor injuries to people that were in that corridor and serious injuries to the perpetrator.

MTA Chairman Joe Lhota: Thank you. As the Commissioners have both said, and the Mayor and the Governor have both said, earlier this morning we received an alert of the explosion that happened in the tunnel and immediately the MTA and the transit authority shut down the lines on the Eight Avenue line, the A, the C, the E. Many of them were rerouted. I will tell you right now, they are all back. The only disruption we have right now is that on both the Seventh Avenue line, as well as the Eighth Avenue line, we’re bypassing the Times Square-42nd Street corridor. And also the shuttle between Grand Central and Times Square is currently shut down. We expect it to be back up and normal by – by this evening’s rush hour.

I do want to also state that on November 6th, just a month or so ago, we had a tabletop exercise with the NYPD to coordinate our efforts in the event that something like this ever happened. And the result of that was today in less than two hours we are back totally up to speed and getting our passengers around. I want to especially thank, not only the NYPD, but also our passengers and our customers for their patience.