2 Gang Members Plead Guilty To Violent Long Island Crimes

LONG ISLAND, NY — Two Brooklyn-based members of the Bloods street gang pleaded guilty in federal court today to a racketeering charges related to two murders and other violent crimes that were committed in Nassau County years ago.

Dylan Cruz, 30, and Richard Michel, 41, both members of the Red Lane Gorillas set of the Bloods, pleaded guilty to the racketeering charges. Cruz pleaded guilty to his roles in two murders, an attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Michel admitted to his role in one of the murders, kidnapping and attempted murder. They both face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

“With today’s guilty pleas, the defendants have admitted their involvement in a slew of senseless violent crimes, including murders, committed in furtherance of a criminal enterprise, the Bloods gang,” said United States Attorney Breon Peace. “This office, along with its federal and state law enforcement partners, will continue its unrelenting efforts to eradicate gang violence in the district and hold accountable all those who threaten the safety and well-being of our communities.”

According to prosecutors, Cruz and Michel were part of a violent gang war between the Red Lane Gorillas and rival gangs, including the Crips and the 5-9 Brims set of the Bloods. The violence happened in both Nassau County and Brooklyn.

The two both admitted to their roles in the July 15, 201 murder of Anthony Richard, who they wrongly believed was helped the Crips in a 2010 murder of a member of their gang. Cruz and Michel, along with other gang members, followed Richard to his home in Baldwin Harbor. When Richard parked his car, Cruz got out of the car he was in, walked up to Richard's car, and fired 15 shots into it at close range. Richard was killed, and a passenger was wounded.

Cruz also admitted to the Oct. 15, 2014 murder of Ehrik Williams in Hempstead. Prosecutors say Cruz wrongly believed that Williams was behind the robbery of Cruz's associate. Cruz walked up behind William and shot him multiple times in broad daylight, killing him.

In addition, Cruz admitted to shooting a rival gang member in Roosevelt on Nov. 17, 2010. He also admitted to conspiring to kill members of the 5-9 Brims, including the Feb. 20, 2016 shooting of a person in Queens.

Michel admitted to kidnapping and assaulting a gang member in Hempstead on Oct. 13, 2011, as well as the attempted murder of a disloyal fellow Bloods member in Uniondale on Sept. 9, 2016.