Bloods Gang Member Indicted After Crash That Killed 3: DA

BELLPORT, NY — A Bellport man was indicted Thursday on charges related to a crash that left three dead and one seriously injured, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini.

Nahriek Belford, 17, was indicted on charges after a crash in Middle Island on Feb. 9, Sini said.

Belford was charged with four counts of first degree assault, a violent felony; three counts of second degree manslaughter, a felony; second degree assault, a violent felony; three counts of first degree unlawful fleeing of a police officer, a felony; third degree criminal possession of stolen property, a felony; fourth degree criminal possession of stolen property, a felony; second degree reckless endangerment, a misdemeanor; third degree unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor; reckless driving, a misdemeanor; and several traffic violations, Sini said.

Belford has been identified by law enforcement as a member of the Natural Born Killers, or “NBK”, set of the Bloods street gang, Sini said.

At 11:45 p.m. on Feb. 9, Belford, while driving a 2015 Nissan Rogue that had been reported stolen two days prior, was observed by a Suffolk County Police officer failing to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Yaphank Avenue and Main Street in Yaphank; the officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop, Sini said.

Belford fled from the police officer at a high rate of speed, driving through several red lights, crossing over double yellow lines into oncoming traffic and making illegal U-turns, Sini said.

At 11:50 p.m., as Belford was traveling westbound on Middle Country Road/Route 25 in Middle Island, he struck a 2009 Honda CRV that was attempting to make a left turn onto Birchwood Park Drive, Sini said.

Belford was driving at a speed of 106 mph immediately prior to the crash; the force of the impact caused the Honda to be cut in half, Sini said.

The passengers in the Honda, Jerome Weingarten, 74, and his wife, Randee Weingarten, 71, of Middle Island, were both pronounced dead at the scene by a physician assistant from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner, Sini said. Belford’s brother, Angelo Belford, 19, of Bellport, who was a passenger in the Nissan, was also pronounced dead at the scene, Sini said.

Jaquell Funderburke, 16, who was a passenger in the Nissan, suffered serious physical injuries as a result of the crash, Sini said.

“It’s clear that this defendant had no intent of stopping for law enforcement,” Sini said. “Three people are now dead because of the actions of this defendant.”

Belford was arraigned on the indictment by Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho; bail was set at $250,000 cash or $500,000 bond, Sini said.

If convicted of the top count, Belford faces a maximum determinate sentence of 25 years in prison, Sini said.

The case is being prosecuted by Jacob Delauter of the Vehicular Crime Bureau.