Sadistic Brooklyn Gang Members Get Life In Prison: U.S. Attorney's Office

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK — Two members of the "Hull Street Crew" Brooklyn gang were sentenced to life in prison Friday for a series of particularly violent murders and other crimes they committed over a decade-long period of time, the U.S. Attorney's office for the Eastern District of New York announced.

Christian John, 32, was charged after he was found guilty by a jury in 2014 with racketeering, murder, attempted murder, murder-for-hire, armed robbery, narcotics distribution and gambling on dog fighting, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. He was found to be the leader of the gang that committed these crimes in Bushwick, Bed-Stuy and East New York, according to trial testimony.

Johnson, 32, was found guilty of committing a brutal murder with John and charged with murder, robbery and narcotics distribution. For updates on the sentencing of these men and other Bed-Stuy news, subscribe to the Bed-Stuy Patch email newsletter and news alerts.

"Today’s sentence marks a day of closure for the six families whose loved ones were senselessly murdered and for the Brooklyn communities where John and his violent crew wreaked havoc from more than a decade," said Robert Capers, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. "These life sentences also provide notice to gang members and violent offenders that this office and our law enforcement partners will be relentless in our efforts to make communities safe for their residents."

The jury found John guilty of the 2000 murder of Charlemagne Lormand, the 2008 murder of Barry Haynes, the 2008 murder of Daquane Shelton and the 2011 murders of Jason Bostic and Aaron Formey, the U.S. Attorney's office said.

Both Johnson and John were found guilty of the particularly brutal 2006 murder of Earle Kevin Obermuller. The two men lured Obermuller to the basement of an abandoned Bed-Stuy brownstone, duct taped his entire head and watched him suffocate to death, after which they set him on fire, according to the investigation.

"Obermuller was found tied to a chair and severely burned on a bed of charcoals," the 2006 criminal complaint said.

John ordered his crew members to bind Bostic and Formey with duct tape as well and kill them, the investigation found. A jury also found John guilty of tying up his own crew member and pouring scalding hot water on him.

Photos via USANYE