Thirteen Members of Nassau Gang Indicted After Months of Violence: District Attorney

Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced on Thursday that 13 alleged members of the Salvadorians with Pride street gang in Hempstead have been indicted by a grand jury for multiple violent acts, including stabbings and shootings, which occurred between between May and November 2016.

The 13 alleged gang members are charged with various crimes in the 49-count indictment, including first-degree conspiracy, second-degree conspiracy, second-degree attempted murder, as well as assault, robbery, weapons possession and other related charges. Eight of the defendants face up to 25 years to life in prison on the charges.

“Gang violence can terrorize a neighborhood, and thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Nassau County Police Department and my office, these alleged gang members will now face justice for their actions,” said Singas. “Law enforcement, community leaders and parents must continue to work together to prevent young people from joining these destructive groups that ruin so many promising young lives.”

Singas said that, according to the indictment, members of Salvadorians with Pride (SWP), including Wilmer Sandoval (aka Scrappy), Jimmy Bonilla (aka Jim Jones and Gem Starr), Ariel Mejia (aka Droopy and Street), Edwin Gomez (aka Steel) and others, allegedly engaged in coordinated violent acts against members of rival gangs and non-gang members beginning in May 2016. The rival gangs allegedly included Vatos Locos, MS-13 and Latin Pride.

On May 5, members of SWP, including Sandoval and other indicted individuals, allegedly attacked a member of a rival gang in front of a fast food restaurant in Hempstead.

On May 12, Sandoval, and other indicted individuals, allegedly attacked three members of the same gang in front of another fast food restaurant in Hempstead. One victim was allegedly struck in the head with a hammer by Sandoval. The following day, Sandoval and Bonilla were driving in Hempstead when Sandoval allegedly shot at another rival gang member.

On May 18, several indicted individuals allegedly approached a victim – who is not a gang member – and demanded his phone. One gang member allegedly shot at the victim with a BB gun.

On June 18, several indicted individuals, including Bonilla, allegedly targeted a rival gang member at the rear of 485 Front St. in Hempstead. The victim was allegedly dragged out of his car and stabbed 25 times. The victim was taken to the hospital in critical condition and survived. One victim, an occupant of the car, was stabbed in the elbow and hand, while another victim was punched.

On Aug. 7, an alleged gang member who has yet to be arraigned allegedly shot at rival gang members in a car in Hempstead. Two days later, the same person allegedly saw rival gang members on Dartmouth Avenue and shot at the car. The victim was grazed by a bullet in the back of his neck.

Photo: Patch