'Outrageous Acts Of Violence': Takedown Of '48 Gang' Reveals 2 Murders, 8 Armed Robberies, 5 Shootings: DA

LONG ISLAND, NY — Law enforcement officials gathered in Riverhead Friday to unveil a major, Long Island-wide gang takedown — involving the 57-count indictment of 18 reported members and associates of the "48 Gang," Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

According to the investigation, the 18 members and associates were members of a violent criminal street organization operating primarily in the Town of Riverhead, specifically, the areas surrounding Oakland Drive, known as the "4 Block," the Doctors Path Apartments on Doctors Path, and the River Pointe Apartments onEast Main Street, the DA said. Borrowing from each of the addresses, the gang referred to themselves as the "48 Gang," the DA said.

The indictment is the culmination of a multi-year investigation conducted by members of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, working with detectives from the Town of Riverhead, Suffolk County Police Department, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, and other local and federal agencies, Tierney said.

The investigation revealed that 48 Gang members also affiliated with widely-recognized gangs such as the "Bloodhound Brims" and "Mak Balla Family," and associated with other local gang members, Tierney said.

The defendants’ connection to Riverhead was reportedly prioritized over other gang associations and those involved worked together to share illegal firearms and use those firearms in the commissions of shootings and armed robberies, Tierney explained.

The investigation culminated in a five-month grand jury presentation charging two murders, eight armed robberies, five additional shootings, and the possession of 13 illegal weapons, Tierney said.

In addition, the investigation revealed that from January 2021 through December 2022, defendant Kyren Braunskill conspired with multiple gang members to sell and possess illegal firearms, Tierney said.

During that time, Braunskill worked as a 911 operator with the New York City Police Department — before becoming a police officer for the Mount Vernon Police Department in December 2022, where he currently holds the rank of detective, Tierney said.

It is alleged as overt acts in the indictment that in December 2022, the same month Braunskill became a member of the Mount Vernon Police Department, that he attempted to arrange the sale of multiple illegal firearms to a reported gang member, worked with a gang member to attempt to deposit forged checks, and even solicited the assistance of a high-ranking gang member to commit a shooting on Braunskill's behalf, Tierney said.

When reached by Patch, the Mount Vernon Police Department said they had no comment.

According to Tierney, Braunskill is one of 16 defendants charged in a long-term conspiracy to illegally possess weapons spanning from 2021 through 2025.

During that time, members of law enforcement recovered 12 illegal weapons from the defendants, which were reported to have been used in multiple shootings and armed robberies, Tierney said.

In addition to the conspiracy to possess weapons, eight of the defendants were charged in long-term conspiracy to commit murder, and 11 defendants were charged in a conspiracy to commit armed robberies, the DA said.

The defendants are accused of using violence as a means of establishing "geographical dominance" over the Riverhead area and having funded their criminal activity through armed robberies, firearms sales, narcotics sales, and financial frauds, Tierney said.

Several of these shootings and armed robberies charged within the indictment are described below, the DA said:

The shooting of an Aquebogue residence in June, 2021

On June 23, 2021, defendants Jacob Moore, Justin Dicks, and Javon Holliday got into a verbal dispute with several individuals, the DA said.

Following the dispute, Moore, Dicks, and Holliday drove to the Aquebogue residence of one of the individuals, believing said individual to be inside the residence, the DA said.

Once at the residence, at about 10:13 p.m., Moore, Dicks, and Holliday acted in concert to fire multiple shots from two separate firearms from the passenger side of Moore's vehicle into the residence, which at the time was occupied by a 74-year-old woman and 76-year-old man, Tierney said.

Nobody was injured as a result of the shooting; however, several bullets entered the residence, striking the bedroom door and living room couch, Tierney said.

The murder of Marcel Arrington in October, 2021 in Mastic Beach

On October 26, 2021, Dicks and Moore reportedly arranged to rob Marcel Arrington, an 18-year-old from Mastic Beach, at gunpoint on Bayview Avenue in Mastic Beach, Tierney said.

Dicks and Moore reportedly contacted Arrington under the guise of attempting to purchase a quantity of marijuana, the DA said. When they arrived to meet Arrington, Dicks is accused of brandishing a pistol at Arrington and attempting to rob Arrington at gunpoint, Tierney said. During the robbery, Dicks reportedly shot Arrington one time in the chest, before stealing the marijuana and driving away with Moore, the DA said. An examination of the expended shell casing at the scene of the homicide revealed that the pistol Dicks reportedly used was one of the same guns used in the June 23, 2021, shooting of the Aquebogue residence, Tierney said.

The shooting of rival gang members in Bellport in September 2022

On September 26, 2022, at about 7 p.m., defendants Elias Lugo, Acorey Hobbs, and Omarion Francis travelled to Taylor Avenue in Bellport, armed with multiple firearms, looking for rival gang members, the DA said.

Once they arrived, they exited their vehicle and fired multiple shots from three weapons at a group of rival gang members gathered in front of a Taylor Avenue residence, Tierney said.

Nobody was injured as a result of the shooting, the DA said.

The murder of James Ayers in January 2023

On January 6, 2023, Nickomas Allen, a reported high-ranking gang member in the Riverhead area, got into a physical altercation with 47-year-old Mastic man, James Ayers, in the parking lot of 821 East Main Street in Riverhead, the DA said.

During the altercation, Ayers punched Allen in the head in front of several individuals, before Ayers exited the parking lot and walked westbound on Main Street, the DA said.

Following the fight, Allen reportedly went into an apartment at the complex, returned with a firearm, and followed Ayers westbound down Main Street until he encountered him in the vicinity of 747 East Main Street, the DA said.

"Once you disrespect a high-ranking gang member there has to be consequences," Tierney said.

Once Allen encountered Ayers, the two engaged in a verbal dispute and Allen reportedly shot Ayers in the head, Tierney said.

Allen fled the scene immediately after the shooting, the DA said. Ayers was rushed to South Shore University Hospital and died as a result of his injuries days later, the DA said.

Allen was arrested on his birthday, the DA said.

Two armed robberies of 7-11 convenience stores in September 2023

In the early morning hours of September 26, 2023, Dicks, Moore, Brandon Johnson, and Jeonta Scott robbed two 7-11 convenience stores at gunpoint in less than one hour, the DA said.

At about 3:22 a.m. they entered the 7-11 on Caleb’s Path in Central Islip wearing dark clothes and masks, the DA said. Once inside, Moore reportedly served as a lookout by the door while Dicks and Johnson brandished two firearms at the 69-year-old cashier, went behind the counter and demanded all the money from the cash register, stealing about $600, Tierney said.

About 50 minutes later, they traveled to a 7-11 in North Bellmore in Nassau County, Tierney said.

At 4:09 a.m., Moore again reportedly served as a lookout by the door while Scott and Johnson demanded all of the money from the 67-year-old cashier at gunpoint and stole about $1,000 in cash from the cash register, the DA said.

Armed robbery of a Flanders deli in September 2024

In September 2024, DeMarion Weston, Kevin Setchoy, and Joel Sandoval Llamas are accused of conspiring to rob the El Quetzal Deli on Flanders Road in Flanders at gunpoint, the DA said.

Shortly before noon on September 23, 2024, Weston entered the deli armed with a firearm, threatened the clerk, and stole about $6,000 from the cash register; the DA said. Weston then pistol-whipped the clerk on her head and body, Tierney said; videos of the robberies were shown at Friday's press event.

On January 8, 2025, following an investigation into the September 23, 2024, robbery, members of law enforcement executed a search warrant into Weston's Farmingville apartment, where he lived with defendant Tiana Macdonald and Macdonald's young child, the DA said.

Inside the apartment, law enforcement recovered a loaded handgun believed to be the same firearm used in the robbery, as well as a quantity of fentanyl, cocaine, digital scales, and United States currency, Tierney said.

According to Tierney, those indicted include:

1. Justin Dicks, 24, of Riverhead, faces a top count of second-degree murder, a Class A-I felony, the DA said. Dicks is currently in custody and scheduled to be arraigned before Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony S. Senft, Jr. on April 2, the DA said.

He is being represented by Jonathan Manley, who was not immediately available for comment.

2. Jacob Moore, 24, of Riverhead, faces a top count of second-degree murder, a Class A-I felony, the DA said. Moore is currently in custody and scheduled to be arraigned before Justice Senft on April 2. He is being represented by Matthew Touhy, who declined comment.

3. Nickomas Allen, 38, of Riverhead, faces a top count of second-degree murder, a Class A-I felony, the DA said.

Allen is currently in federal custody in Pennsylvania on an unrelated matter and will be transported to Suffolk County to be arraigned at a later date, the DA said.

4. Elias Lugo, 20, of Riverhead faces a top count of second-degree attempted murder, a Class B violent felony, the DA said.

On March 26, he was arraigned on the indictment before Justice Senft. Justice Senft ordered Lugo held him on $250,000 cash, $500,000 bond, or $2,500,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case, the DA said. Lugo is due back in court on April 16, and faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted on the top count, the DA said. He is being represented by David Besso, who could not immediately be reached for comment.

5. Javon Holliday, 23, of Riverhead, faces a top count of first-degree robbery, a Class B violent felony, the DA said. Holliday is currently in New York State custody on an unrelated matter and will be arraigned at a later date; he faces 25 years in prison if convicted on the top count, the DA said.

6. Acorey Hobbs, 20, of Southampton, faces a top count of second-degree attempted murder, a Class B violent felony, Tierney said. Hobbs is currently in New York State custody on an unrelated matter and will be arraigned at a later date; he faces 25 years in prison if convicted on the top count, the DA said.

7. Brandon Johnson, 21, of Riverhead, faces a top count of first-degree robbery, a Class B violent felony, Tierney said. Johnson is currently in custody and scheduled to be arraigned before Justice Senft on April 1, the DA said. Johnson faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted on the top count, Tierney said.

He is being represented by Austin Manghan, who could not immediately be reached for comment.

8. Omarion Frances, 21, of Coram, faces a top count of second-degree attempted murder, a Class B violent felony, Tierney said. Francis is currently in New York State custody on an unrelated matter and is scheduled to be arraigned at a later date; he faces 25 years in prison if convicted on the top count, the DA said.

9. Kendall Gamble, 26, of Shirley, faces a top count of second-degree conspiracy, a Class B felony, the DA said. On March 26, he was arraigned on the indictment before Justice Senft, who ordered Gamble held on $150,000 cash, $300,000 bond, or $1,500,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case, the DA said. Gamble is due back in court on April 16, and faces up to 8 ⅓ to 25 years in prison if convicted on the top count, Tierney said.

He is being represented by Danielle Papa, who was not immediately available for comment.

10. Demario Weston, 23, of Farmingville, faces a top count of first-degree robbery, a Class B violent felony, the DA said. Weston is currently in custody and scheduled to be arraigned before Justice Senft on April 2, the DA. Weston faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted on the top count, the DA said. He is being represented by the Legal Aid Society.

11. Jayvonte Nash, 25, of Riverhead, faces a top count of fourth-degree conspiracy, a Class E felony, the DA said. Nash is currently being held on charges on an unrelated indictment and is scheduled to be arraigned before Justice Senft on March 31, the DA said.

He faces up to 1 ⅓ to 4 years in prison and is being represented by Walter Zornes, who was not immediately available for comment.

12. Jeonta Scott, 25, of Riverhead, faces a top count of first-degree robbery, a Class B violent felony, the DA said. Scott is currently in custody and scheduled to be arraigned before Justice Senft on April 2, the DA said. Scott faces up to 25 years if convicted on the top count, Tierney said.

He is being represented by Ira Weissman, who was not immediately available for comment.

13. Kevin Setchoy, 23, of Mastic, faces a top count of first-degree robbery, a Class B violent felony, the DA said. Setchoy is currently in custody and will be arraigned at a later date, the DA said. Setchoy faces up to 25 years if convicted on the top count, the DA said.

He is being represented by Brett Bennett, who could not immediately be reached for comment.

14. Andre Williams, 25, of Calverton, faces a top count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a Class C violent felony, the DA said.

Williams is currently in custody and is scheduled to be arraigned before Justice Senft on April 2, Tierney said.

Williams faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted on the top count, the DA said. He is being represented by Katherine Fernandez, who was not immediately available for comment.

15. Kyren Braunskill, 34, of Mount Vernon, faces a top count of fourth-degree conspiracy, a Class E felony, Tierney said.

On March 26, he was arraigned on the indictment before Justice Senft, the DA said. Justice Senft placed Braunskill on supervised release with GPS conditions because his charges are considered non-bail eligible under New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set, bail, the DA said.

At the press conference, Tierney noted that the conduct in question had not taken place during the time that he served as a detective in Mount Vernon; Tierney said Braunskill knew Nash from his prior time as a former resident the Riverhead and Southampton area.

Braunskill is due back in court on April 15, and faces up to 1 ⅓ to 4 years in prison, the DA said.

He is being represented by John Halverson."We've entered a plea of not guilty," Halvorsen told Patch. "We maintain our innocence and look forward to defending this case."

16. Courtney Gregg, 34, of Riverhead, faces a top count of second-degree hindering prosecution, a Class D felony, the DA said.

On March 26, she was arraigned on the indictment before Justice Senft. Justice Senft placed Gregg on supervised release with GPS conditions because her charges are considered non-bail eligible under New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set, bail. Gregg is due back in court on April 13, and faces up to 2 ⅓ to 7 years in prison, the DA said.

She is being represented by Carl Irace, who could not immediately be reached for comment.

17. Joel Sandoval Llamas, 26, of Riverhead, faces a top count of first-degree robbery, a Class B violent felony, the DA said. On March 25, Sandoval Llamas was arrested and charged in West Virginia and is currently in custody awaiting extradition, the DA said. He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted on the top count, Tierney said.

18. Tiana Macdonald, 24, of Farmingville, faces a top count of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a Class B felony, Tierney said. Macdonald is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment on April 9, the DA said. Her charges are considered non-bail eligible under New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set, bail, the DA said.

She faces up to nine years in prison if convicted on the top count and is being represented by Glenn Obedin, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Tierney said, at the press conference, that upon taking office, his goal was to "rid Suffolk County of gang violence, through a comprehensive approach."

The Suffolk County gangs, he said, were not just national or transnational organizations such as the Bloods, Crips, or MS-13, but "local, neighborhood gangs, committing violence in their hometowns as a way of establishing dominance and establishing their reputations — and to hold sway over specific geographic areas."

Most of the gang members, he noted, had two gang affiliations — the traditional Bloods or Crips affiliation, and then the local gang affiliation. "Oftentimes they are more loyal to the local gangs," Tierney said.

The bust is the third significant gang takedown this year and the 11th since he took office, Tierney said.

The crimes spanned the area from "Riverhead to Nassau," he said.

Using a comprehensive approach, he said: "We went after everyone involved in this operation. We wanted to grab this operation, pull it up from the roots and stem and eliminate it from the community."

Braunskill, Tierney said, supplied guns to his ranking Riverhead gang members, but he is not bail eligible, the DA added. He said that he procured the guns from North Carolina.

Tierney commented on the number of defendants who were not bail eligible. "These gang members used those guns to commit outrageous acts of violence. It has to change."

And, said Tierney: "The message is clear: If you are committing gang and gun violence in Suffolk County, we are coming after you."

He added: "This indictment is yet another example of my office’s steadfast commitment to eliminating gang violence in Suffolk County. Once again, working with all our local and federal partners throughout Long Island, we were able to secure this consequential indictment and help bring justice to victims of gang violence throughout Suffolk County. I’ve said it before and I will say it again, gangs and illegal weapons have no place in Suffolk County, and we will work tirelessly to ensure that any gang member, or anyone aiding gang members, operating in Suffolk County, will be brought to justice."

"I’d like to thank the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, as well as all the agencies that made this case a success," said Riverhead Police Department Chief of Police Ed Frost. "Above all else this case highlights two critical points. First, the violent acts of a few will not be allowed to destroy the lives of many. Second, this case highlights the fact that no one is above the law. I also would like to recognize the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office for its tireless efforts and unwavering partnership with our police department. This case is a direct result of that collaboration."

"There is no place for gang violence in our communities, and we will not stand on the sidelines while individuals bring fear to our neighborhoods through their violent actions," said Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina. "Working alongside the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, we will not relent in our pursuit of those responsible. Whether it takes months or years, we will continue to investigate, solve these crimes, and bring justice to the victims and their families."

“Once again, Suffolk County’s law enforcement partners has demonstrated what’s possible when agencies work together,” said Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. "This investigation reflects months of coordinated, intelligence-driven police work that led to the dismantling of a dangerous gang and the removal of illegal weapons from our streets. Thanks to the dedication and hard work of these officers, we are able to hold these criminals accountable and continue to protect our communities."