LI Bloods Gang Member Convicted Of Murder, Sex Trafficking: Feds

CALVERTON, NY — A Bloods gang member from Calverton was convicted Tuesday of charges including murder, narcotics distribution, and sex trafficking on Long Island, federal officials said.

After a four-week trial, a federal jury in Central Islip returned a "guilty" verdict against Lawrence Lewis, 38, also known as "L Boogs," for the July 29, 2017 murder of John Birt, the forcible rape and sex trafficking of a Suffolk County woman, racketeering, multiple firearms offenses, narcotics possession and distribution, and witness tampering, according to Breon Peace United States Attorney for the Eastern District Judge of New York.

The trial was held before United States District Judge Joanna Seybert.

When sentenced, Lewis faces a mandatory penalty of life in prison for the murder, officials said.

Between April 2004 and June 2019, Lewis, as a member of the Bloods street gang, distributed large quantities of cocaine base and heroin in Suffolk County, officials said. In order to protect his supply of narcotics, and secure his ability to distribute his narcotics, Lewis had a number of firearms, including an AR-15 assault rifle, a pistol-grip 12-gauge shotgun, a Mossberg .22 caliber rifle and a Ruger .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, Peace said.

Lewis also engaged in "acts of extreme violence "on behalf of the Bloods gang, federal officials said.

In 2014, as retaliation for gun theft, Lewis forced a woman into engaging in prostitution until she repaid her debt to him, federal officials said. During the same period of time, Lewis forcibly raped the woman, officials added.

On July 29, 2017, Lewis shot and killed Birt, a member of the Crips gang, at the Illusions Gentlemen’s Club in Deer Park, federal officials said.

While Birt and several friends posed for pictures inside the club, Lewis and a fellow Bloods gang member approached the group; Lewis’ associate attempted to display a Bloods hand signal and Birt began arguing with Lewis, who then shot and killed him, federal officials said.

Later, Lewis texted a number of close acquaintances about the murder, stating that he was “sleeping good,” and would “do it again,” officials said.

Before the trial, Lewis and others attempted to prevent witnesses from testifying against him, through the use of veiled and implicit threats of violence, federal officials said.

“Lewis’s conviction today ensures that he will never again be able to terrorize our community with his senseless acts of gang-related violence,” Peace said.

“With extreme violence and indifference to human life, Lawrence Lewis with the Bloods street gang reigned terror over neighborhoods in Suffolk County, Long Island for over a decade. With today’s verdict finding Lewis guilty of heinous crimes to include murder, rape, and sex trafficking, a clear message has been sent to these violent gang members that they will be held accountable for their actions,” said Homeland Security Investigations Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Ricky Patel.

And, said Suffolk County Police Department Acting Commissioner Stuart Cameron: “As a member of a violent street gang, Lewis’ involvement in illegal activity ran the gamut. He was willing to do whatever it took to further his criminal activities and attempt to evade authorities. I applaud the hard work of all the agencies involved to hold Lewis accountable for his heinous actions.”