2 Notorious Repeat Violent Offenders Admit Guilt In Orange Courtroom

NEWBURGH, NY — There will be consequences for a string of violent incidents in Newburgh tied to two Orange County gang members.

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that 26-year-old Jesus Bravo, of Newburgh, and 24-year-old Wilmer Reyes-Bran, of Newburgh, both entered guilty pleas last month for a series of violent incidents in the City of Newburgh.

Bravo pled guilty to second degree attempted murder, second degree criminal possession of a weapon, and two counts of second degree assault, for three incidents in 2023.

Reyes-Bran pled guilty to second degree attempted murder, two counts of second degree criminal possession of a weapon, and two counts of second degree assault, for the three incidents with Bravo, and also for another incident this year.

At sentencing on January 6, it is expected that Bravo will be sentenced to an aggregate term of 19 years in prison to be followed by five years of post-release supervision, while at sentencing on February 25, it will be recommended that Reyes-Bran be sentenced to an aggregate term of 26 years in prison to be followed by five years of post-release supervision.

The district attorney said that a long-term investigation into gang-related violence in and around the City of Newburgh was conducted by the Non-Fatal Shooting Taskforce, made up of members of the City of Newburgh Police Department, investigators and attorneys with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, and analysts from the Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center. The taskforce, which is funded through the NYS Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative, aims to target the drivers of gun crimes by enhancing cases even where victims and witnesses are uncooperative with law enforcement.

According to court documents, on September 21, 2023, at 6 p.m., Bravo and Reyes-Bran approached a man in the City of Newburgh and asked if he was in a known gang. Reyes-Bran then pulled out a knife which Bravo encouraged him to use. Reyes-Bran then stabbed the victim repeatedly in the arms, face and torso while Bravo punched and kicked the victim.

On December 11, 2023, around 9:50 p.m., Bravo and Reyes-Bran followed two men at a location in the City of Newburgh. Bravo then fired a gun at one of the men, who ran away. Bravo and Reyes-Bran then approached the other man and Bravo pistol-whipped him while Reyes-Bran kicked the man.

On December 30, 2023, around 3 a.m., police were alerted to a ShotSpotter activation in an area of the City of Newburgh. Once officers were on the scene, they found an SUV with eight bullet holes but no one present. Police later learned that a person went to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the back. Surveillance video showed that Bravo fired the gun at the SUV after Reyes-Bran handed him the gun.

On February 12, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Reyes-Bran's home in the City of Newburgh, during which police found a firearm without a serial number, and ammunition for the gun in Reyes-Bran’s pocket. Later analysis linked the firearm to the December, 2023 shootings.

"The pleas entered today mark an end to the reign of violence perpetrated by these two defendants," Hoovler said. "I commend the tireless work of the Non-Fatal Shooting Taskforce, including the City of Newburgh Police, the Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center and my staff. Violent crimes, and the violent criminals who perpetrate them, are stopped only by the painstaking efforts of law enforcement. These offenders must be identified, investigated and held accountable for their despicable actions."

The district attorney thanked the City of Newburgh Police Department, with the assistance of the Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center, for their investigation and the arrest of Bravo and Reyes-Bran.

The cases are being prosecuted by Executive Assistant District Attorney Leah Canton, Senior Assistant District Attorney Christopher Kelly and Assistant District Attorney Anthony Molina.