Man Sentenced In Deadly 2018 Suffolk Home Invasion: DA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — The man who authorities said played a role in the killing of a Patchogue man during a 2018 home invasion was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced Monday.

Ade N’Gaii, 39, of Harlem, was found guilty in February for his part in the death of Kristopher Appel, 30, during a planned home invasion, the DA said.

"This defendant could have walked away from the plan to invade the victim's home when it failed the first time," Tierney said. "But, instead, he doubled down. His desire to enrich himself was so great, that it led to murder. Now, he'll get to spend a significant time in prison for that choice."

In October 2018, N'Gaii and his accomplices targeted Appel and plotted to commit a violent home invasion at his house to 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. They failed to break into the home, prosecutors said. They planned a second home invasion, the DA said.

On Nov. 2, 2018, N'Gaii and three accomplices drove from the Bronx back into Suffolk with a handgun, officials said. They disguised themselves as construction workers, wearing hard hats and reflective vests, investigators said. N'Gaii and an accomplice broke into Appel's home and then brutally beat and fatally stabbed him, prosecutors said.

Appel was found dead by police in the front vestibule of his home later that day.

Police found a reflective vest in Appel's home prosecutors said had N'Gaii's DNA. 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 was convicted on Feb. 24 of second-degree murder (a class A violent felony). He was represented by Alix Duroseau.