Social Media Stooges
Gang Used Facebook to Plan Crimes
Cops Round Up Members in Raid
BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 8- District Attorney Robert Johnson and NYPD Commissioner William Bratton announce the early morning raid by members of the NYPD’s 42nd Precinct that netted eight members of the Lyman Place Gang, and the indictments of seven gang members already in custody, for crimes ranging from conspiracy to robbery to attempted murder.
The 57-count indictment unsealed in Bronx Supreme Court continues the investigation and prosecution that began late last year, when 11 Lyman members were indicted on charges including murder, attempted murder and conspiracy.
As with last year’s case, much of the gang members’ communication took place on Facebook, and related to the acquisition of firearms and ammunition, and the targeting of victims in rival gangs.
Some of those online communications also related to the robberies for which several members are charged, including one on March 1st, 2015, in the vicinity of 1409 Prospect Avenue, during which three gang members allegedly robbed a food deliveryman of cash and a cell phone. Another took place on St. Patrick’s Day of this year at the Bright Star Deli, 858 Prospect Avenue, during which two of the accused allegedly punched an employee in the face and stole cash from the register.
District Attorney Robert Johnson noted that each of these arrests makes an important stride in making the streets safer for citizens in the Bronx: “This kind of violence is senseless, and it is our office’s goal, along with that of the NYPD, to make sure that guns are taken off the streets, and those wrongdoers who would use guns or other means to threaten the safety of law abiding citizens, are targeted by our investigations.”
"This investigation is an example of law enforcement addressing the violence caused by street crews such as the Lyman Gang whose reckless actions affect the quality of life of the residents where they operate. I want to thank the members of the 42nd Precinct and the Bronx District Attorney’s Office for bringing these alleged crew members to justice,” said Police Commissioner William J. Bratton.
The District Attorney singled out for praise the 42nd Precinct’s Field Intelligence Officers Sgt. Adrian Uruci and P.O. David Terrell, the NYPD’s Intelligence Bureau, and P.O. Brian Moore of the Juvenile Justice Division. Also thanked for their work on the shooting and robberies are Det. Dan Brady, Det. Shane Rogers, Det. Luis Reyes, and Det. Carlos Lozada of the 42nd Precinct.
The case against the Lyman Place Gang is being prosecuted by Bronx Assistant District Attorneys Christina Nowak and Felicity Lung of the Bronx D.A. Gangs/Major Case Bureau, as well as Edward Friedenthal, Counsel to the Bureau.
The charges in this indictment are merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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