Man Found Guilty Of 2018 Suffolk Home Invasion Killing: SCDA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — A Harlem man was found guilty of killing a man during a planned home invasion in Patchogue in 2018, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced Friday.

Ade N’Gaii, 39, was charged with second-degree murder (a class A violent felony) in connection with his part in the killing of Kristopher Appel, 30, the DA said. He is due back in court on March 27 for sentencing, and he faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

"The defendant took it upon himself to come into Suffolk County and murder this victim all so he could make money," Tierney said via news release. "I thank the jury for their careful attention to the case, the police for their investigation, and our prosecutors for ensuring that justice is served. The jury's verdict will ensure that the defendant is held responsible for this unnecessary death driven by greed."

The trial evidence found that in October 2018, N’Gaii and his accomplices targeted Appel and conspired to commit a violent home invasion and steal money and marijuana, authorities said.

On Oct. 27, 2018, N’Gaii and his accomplices, armed with a handgun, drove from the Bronx
to Patchogue to carry out their plan, officials said. N’Gaii and his accomplices could not break into Appel's home on their first try because they were physically unable to break into the house, prosecutors said. Their botched attempted home invasion resulted in the second planned home invasion that turned out to be fatal, Tierney said.

On Nov. 2, 2018, N’Gaii and three accomplices again drove from the Bronx into Suffolk
armed with a handgun, officials said. The trio disguised themselves as construction workers, wearing hard hats and reflective vests, authorities said. N’Gaii and one accomplice forcibly entered Appel’s home, and engaged in a confrontation with Appel when they brutally beat and fatally stabbed him, prosecutors said.

Suffolk police found Appel dead in the front vestibule of his home later that day, police said.

Police found a reflective vest that contained N’Gaii’s DNA from Appel’s home, authorities said. Witness testimony, as well as N’Gaii text messages to an accomplice, put him in the area of the killing at the time it happened, the DA said. N’Gaii was arrested on June 24, 2021.

N’Gaii is being represented by Alix Duroseau.

One of N’Gaii’s accomplices, Omar Sam, 41, pleaded guilty to attempted murder (a Class B violent felony) on May 13, 2021, prosecutors said. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 2. Sam is being represented by Scott Cerbin.

Another accomplice, Joshua Rodriguez, 29, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree conspiracy (a class E felony) on Nov. 24, 2021, authorities said. His sentencing is scheduled for March 2. Rodriguez is being represented by Jonathan Manley.

The third accomplice has not yet been identified, the DA said.