Posted on: February 18, 2024 07:44 AM

Share : Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp

Suffolk DA Tierney announces 103 count indictment of 31 alleged Bloodhound Brim Gang members and associates following long term investigation

24 Defendants Charged with Murder Conspiracy Including a Shooting that Resulted in the Death of a 44-Year-Old School Teacher, Kimberly Midgette, in Hempstead in April 2023

 

The Indictment Charges 18 Shootings, Three Armed Robberies, and Possession of 12 Illegal Weapons across Long Island from August 2021 to the Present

 

Defendant Latique Johnson, also known as “La Brim,” Charged with Three Counts of Conspiracy for Allegedly Directing Gang Operations While in Federal Prison in California

 

Defendants Jussiah Herbert, also known as “Lokko,” and Oumar Barry, also known as “Dollo,” Allegedly Ordered Lower-Ranking Gang Members to Commit Shootings and Robberies to Earn Status Within the Gang

 

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney, together with law enforcement partners, today announced the 103-count indictment charging 31 alleged members and associates of the “Bloodhound Brim” Street Gang. This long-term investigation covered 34 separate incidents, including eighteen shootings, three armed robberies, three long-term conspiracies, including a conspiracy to commit murder, and the recovery of twelve loaded handguns used in thirteen shootings and armed robberies.

“This long-term, in-depth investigation is another example of exactly what I promised the people of Suffolk County. Unfortunately, the violence that these alleged gang members and associates inflicted upon our community ended up taking the life of Kimberly Midgette, a 44-year-old schoolteacher,” said District Attorney Tierney. “We will continue to prioritize our focus on gang violence using every law enforcement tool we possess and take a coordinated approach to ending violent gang activity. If you are committing violent crime in Suffolk County, we are coming for you. Thank you to the law enforcement professionals with our Task Force for working with us to bring this great result.”

The District Attorney’s Gang Violence Task Force consists of a team of Investigators, Analysts, and Assistant District Attorneys from the District Attorney’s Office, the Suffolk County Police Department, and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department who are assigned to investigate and prosecute gang violence. The Assistant District Attorneys are from the Violent Criminal Enterprises (“VCE”) Bureau, a bureau formed by District Attorney Tierney on January 1, 2022, to specifically focus on gun violence and other criminal activity perpetrated by gangs and criminal organizations operating in, and affecting, Suffolk County. The District Attorney’s Gang Violence Task Force, working in conjunction with the VCE Bureau, and law enforcement agencies throughout Long Island, uses every investigative strategy to build successful violent gang conspiracy cases against Suffolk County’s most violent offenders. These cases, like the one detailed herein, are designed to incapacitate these violent enterprises that endanger Suffolk County residents.

“Suffolk County’s law enforcement agencies are committed to working together to keep dangerous criminals off our streets. Suffolk Sheriff’s Office investigators were able to share valuable intelligence with the District Attorney’s Office and Suffolk County Police Department to help apprehend dozens of gang members,” said Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. “Their criminal acts spanned attempted murder, narcotics sales, grand larceny, and possession of illegal weapons. Thanks to the hard work of our Taskforce members, we are not only indicting these bad actors, but we are preventing deadly drugs and potential violence from entering our communities.”

“Kimberly Midgette was a beloved elementary school teacher who was senselessly shot and killed during a drive-by shooting as she sat in her car. Working with our law enforcement partners, we indicted defendant Oumar Barry – an alleged Bloodhound Brims member – for her murder,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly. “Gang prosecutions are extremely tough work. They require cooperation and seamless intelligence sharing between agencies. I thank District Attorney Ray Tierney for spearheading this investigation and helping to remove so many dangerous gang members from Long Island in this takedown.”

“Suffolk County is a safer place due to the coordinated efforts of this multi-agency operation,” said Suffolk County Police Acting Commissioner Robert Waring. “This takedown was a continuation of a long-term investigation targeting gang violence and we will continue to work together to target gangs and their illegal activities.”

“Today’s indictments of 31 defendants of the Bloodhound Brim Gang for conspiracy to commit murder, armed robberies, over a dozen shootings and other counts of conspiracy is a clear example of how a multitude of law enforcement agencies worked together to bring over 30 defendants to justice and recovered 12 firearms used to commit these violent crimes,” said Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder. “I would like to congratulate all of the dedicated investigators and their agencies for their tireless work during this lengthy investigation.  There is no doubt that our communities and streets will be safer as a result of these indictments.”

“I would like to thank the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office for its tireless efforts to keep our residents safe by ridding our communities of gangs and criminals and the illegal weapons they possess,” said Riverhead Police Chief David Hegermiller. “Today’s arrests highlight law enforcement’s ability to reduce violence across all of Suffolk County when there is a common goal and interagency collaboration.”

“Today’s announcement is the result of continued collaboration between law enforcement agencies and should serve as a reminder that there is no place in our community for the pervasive violence exhibited by the Bloods street gang and its Bloodhound Brim associates,” said HSI New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan. “I commend HSI New York, and our law enforcement partners for once again demonstrating we will stop at nothing when it comes to protecting the residents of Suffolk County and Long Island as a whole.”

“I commend District Attorney Tierney for his commitment to focus on gang and gun violence,” said Vincent F. DeMarco, United States Marshal for the Eastern of New York. “Public safety in our communities is the goal of U.S. Marshals fugitive mission. We are committed to assisting our state and local partners to apprehend most violent individuals who commit the most violent crimes.”

“Too many people in our community are exploited or otherwise victimized by gang violence and criminal activity. We are aware that some of our newer residents are more vulnerable to becoming targets of this gang activity. We are here for you! District Attorney Ray Tierney’s tenacity and commitment to prosecute gang violence and gang criminal activity is a comfort to all of us in Law Enforcement whose mission it is to protect our community,” said Southampton Police Chief James Kiernan. “In partnership with each other all Suffolk law enforcement joins with the DA to continue investigations like this and send a clear message that gang activity will not be tolerated on the East End or anywhere in Suffolk County.”

 

The Investigation

According to the indictment, the defendants are allegedly members and associates of the Bloodhound Brim (“BHB”) Street Gang. The Bloodhound Brims are an established and organized subset of the nationwide Bloods gang, and a faction of the state-wide Bloods set known as the New York Blood Brim Army. The members of BHB adhere to a strict oath, commandments, rules, and hierarchy allegedly led by defendant LATIQUE JOHNSON, also known as “La Brim,” and communicated through local Long Island leaders, defendant JUSSIAH HERBERT, also known as “Lokko,” and defendant OUMAR BARRY, also known as “Dollo.”

In early 2022, District Attorney Investigators, Suffolk County Police Detectives, and members of the Riverhead Town Police Department and the Suffolk County Sherriff’s Office, began investigating a series of violent acts allegedly committed by members of BHB.

Working with Assistant District Attorneys of the VCE Bureau, over the course of the almost two years, investigators executed over 100 search warrants into residences, vehicles, and digital sources to gather evidence and intelligence about members and associates of BHB.

Working in collaboration with members of the Nassau County Police Department, Southampton Town Police Department, United States Department of Homeland Security, United States Marshals Service, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the investigation revealed the sprawling and extensive criminal conduct allegedly committed by members of BHB dating back to August 2021.

The BHB Gang

It is alleged that from August 2021 through February 2024, BHB members and their associates operated throughout Long Island, primarily centered

From S