Manhattan U.S. Attorney Charges 19 Members Of Bronx Gang And Their Narcotics Supplier With Narcotics Trafficking And The Gang’S Former Leader With A Firearms Offense

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and William J. Bratton, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced charges against 19 members of a criminal organization known as the “River Park Towers Young Gunnerz” (“RPT YGz”), which operates out of the River Park Towers housing complex, located on Richman Plaza in the vicinity of Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx, New York. The RPT YGz members, along with their primary narcotics supplier, are all charged with narcotics trafficking. The gang’s former leader, TYRONE FELDER, is also charged with a firearms offense. These charges follow those announced on August 15 and 16, 2014, against RPT YGz members TYRONE FELDER, JAMAL WALKER, and TOMMY SMALLS, for the carjacking and murder of a livery cab driver in the Bronx.

13 of the defendants, including the three who are currently in federal custody on the murder-related charges, will be presented in Manhattan federal court this afternoon. Two of the defendants are currently in state custody on unrelated state charges and will be presented upon their arrival to the Southern District of New York. Five defendants are still at large.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “As alleged, the defendants were associated with a violent gang that claimed an entire housing complex as its territory and held residents captive to their drug dealing and violent acts. Thanks to the outstanding work of the NYPD, the residents of River Park Towers are safer today, and these 20 suspected gang members and drug dealers are being brought to justice.”

NYPD Commissioner William J. Bratton said: “These individuals conducted their illegal operation inside of the River Park Towers development, causing alarm to the law abiding residents that live in the area. Thanks to the investigators and prosecutors who built and investigated this case, the message is clear, the NYPD will continue to target gangs who threaten the safety and well-being of all New Yorkers.”

According to the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:

From at least 2010 through August 2014, River Park Towers has been plagued by drug dealing and violence, driven in large part by the activities of the RPT YGz. During that time period, the RPT YGz gang has distributed crack cocaine and marijuana, among other drugs, in and around the RPT complex. RPT YGz members have also engaged in robberies and various other acts of violence to protect their territory, assert their identity, and further their illegal activities, including threatening, intimidating and assaulting the security guards who are assigned to protect the River Park Towers complex and who have tried to prevent the RPT YGz members from selling drugs in the area.

TYRONE FELDER was the leader of RPT YGz until his arrest on August 15, 2014. Members of RPT YGz would pay money to FELDER in exchange for permission to sell drugs in and around the River Park Towers complex. FREDERICK ALLEN was recently designated the new leader of the RPT YGz by TYRONE FELDER following FELDER’s arrest.

NICOMEDES FRASQUERI serves as the primary supplier of narcotics for the RPT YGz, operating out of his own apartment within the River Park Towers complex. FRASQUERI has sold quantities of crack cocaine to members of the RPT YGz, among others, for distribution to customers.

TYRONE FELDER, JAMAL WALKER, NICOMEDES FRASQUERI, FREDERICK ALLEN, ANGEL AMERZQUITO, KEVIN ANTHONY, KELVIN DOUGLAS, DERRICK FELDER, ANTHONY GIVENS, KERI GIVENS, BRIAN HALL, ELIJAH HUBBARD, TERRELL JOHNSON, TYRONE MARGWOOD, SHANEQUA MASCALL, LAMONT OBEY, TOMMY SMALLS, GEORGE STONE, JEROME THOMAS, and JOHNA THOMAS are all charged with conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine and marijuana, a charge that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. In addition, TYRONE FELDER is charged with one count of brandishing a firearm in relation to a narcotics and racketeering conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison, which must run consecutive to any other sentence, and a maximum penalty of life in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

A chart containing the names, ages, and residences for the defendants is attached to this release.

The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon.

Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD Bronx Narcotics Division – Major Case Unit. He added that the investigation is continuing.

The Office’s Narcotics Unit is overseeing the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Garzon, Andrew DeFilippis, and Patrick Egan are in charge of the prosecution.

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

U.S. v. Tyrone Felder et al.