'Ski-Ball Gang' Members Charged In Westchester Armed Robbery: FBI

YONKERS, NY — Four members of the notorious Ski-Ball gang are facing federal racketeering charges in connection to a string of armed robberies and gang-related shootings, including a Yonkers armed robbery.

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the FBI, Ivan J. Arvelo, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations, Daniel B. Brubaker, the Inspector in Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Edward A. Caban, the Commissioner of the NYPD, announced on Thursday the unsealing of an indictment charging Keyshawn Masonp "topski.bz," (a/k/a "Bz," a/k/a "KB," a/k/a "Kay Ski"), Greg Brown (a/k/a "ballout.gg," a/k/a "GG"), Carl Henry (a/k/a "Big Ski," a/k/a "Biggs") and Amari Jackson, (a/k/a "Justo") with racketeering conspiracy, firearms offenses, and other crimes related to their membership in the "Ski-Ball Gang," a street gang investigators said is based in the Bronx. The four are also charged with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering in connection with their participation in multiple shootings.

"As alleged, members of the Ski-Ball Gang engaged in brazen acts of violence across this District, including multiple shootings at rival gang members," Williams said. "Thanks to the extraordinary work of our law enforcement partners and the career prosecutors of this Office, the defendants, who include senior members of the gang, now face a slew of federal charges for their crimes."

The accused gang members took part in a violent reign of crime in Westchester County and the Bronx, according to prosecutors.

On January 31, 2020, Henry participated in and facilitated the attempted murder of a rival gang member in the Bronx, according to the charges.

On August 23, 2020, Henry and Jackson participated in and facilitated the attempted murder of a rival gang member in the Bronx, investigators said.

On August 27, 2020, Brown participated in and facilitated the attempted murder of rival gang members in the Bronx, according to the allegations.

On August 27, 2020, Massop participated in and facilitated the assault of rival gang members in the Bronx, prosecutors said.

On June 25, 2021, Massop participated in and facilitated the attempted murder of rival gang members in the Bronx, according to the allegations.

On January 13, 2022, Brown, for the purpose of maintaining and increasing his position in the Ski-Ball Gang enterprise, participated in and facilitated a gunpoint robbery in Yonkers, investigators believe.

From 2019 through 2022, all four participated in a bank and wire fraud conspiracy, which included identity theft, according to prosecutors.

"As alleged, the defendants conspired to not only attempt to increase their standing within a violent street gang through a series of senseless shootings, but also to engage in both bank and wire fraud," FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said. "We will not allow gang members to engage in reckless violence that endangers innocent lives. The New York FBI’s Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force is committed, through collaboration with our law enforcement partners, to ensuring that brazen gang violence has no place in our communities."

Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI’s Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force, HSI, USPIS, and the NYPD. He also thanked the U.S. Secret Service and the Department of Labor for their assistance in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s White Plains Division and Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Klein, Andrew Chan, Christy Slavik, and Ben Arad are in charge of the prosecution.