Derome Gray pled guilty today in Brooklyn federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Marilyn D. Go to assaulting Deputy U.S. Marshals with a deadly weapon, as well as robbery and firearms charges. When sentenced before United States District Judge Sandra L. Townes later this year, the defendant faces up to life imprisonment.

The guilty plea was announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Charles G. Dunne, United States Marshal for the Eastern District of New York; Ronald J. Verrochio, Postal Inspector-in-Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service; and Joseph Anarumo, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), New York Field Division.

According to court filings and trial testimony in a related case, early in the morning of June 8, 2007, the defendant and others subdued three Postal Service employees at gunpoint, stole cash from the post office vault, and escaped. An investigation by the Postal Inspectors identified Gray as one of the robbers. The other individuals involved in the robbery all were apprehended. Gray, however, fled New York and became a fugitive. For several years, the United States Marshals Service tracked Gray before locating him at a private home in Queens, New York, where he had returned seeking safe harbor and support from an associate. On October 3, 2011, Deputy United States Marshals and other members of the United States Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force entered the home to arrest Gray. Gray responded by firing two rounds in the Marshals’ direction. The Marshals successfully took Gray into custody without returning fire. Several firearms, including the one Gray used to shoot at the Marshals, were seized from the home. Special Agents of the ATF responded immediately to the scene of the shooting and have led the investigation into the events arising from Gray’s arrest. Today’s guilty plea marks the fifth conviction arising from this investigation.

In announcing the guilty plea, Ms. Lynch expressed her grateful appreciation to the U.S. Marshals Service, the Postal Inspection Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Seth DuCharme and Justin Lerer.

The Defendant:

DEROME GRAY
Alias: “Rome”
Age: 41

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