22 Alleged Gang Members Indicted In 4-Year Crime Spree On LI: DA

LONG ISLAND, NY — Suffolk law enforcement officials on Thursday announced the 168-count indictment charging 22 members and associates of a violent criminal street organization known as the Mak Balla Family that operated across Long Island but primarily focused in the Suffolk communities of Mastic, Mastic Beach, and Coram.

This long-term investigation resulted in an indictment spanning over four years that charges covered over 38 separate incidents, including 17 shootings, the possession of 22 illegal firearms, three armed robberies, four long-term conspiracies, including a conspiracy to commit murder and
a conspiracy to possess and sell illicit narcotics throughout Suffolk, District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

He said the "comprehensive investigations and consequential indictments are exactly what he promised the people of Suffolk when he formed the Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau in 2022."

“This case is another example of my office’s prioritization and dedication to ridding Suffolk County of gun and gang violence," he said. "We will work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to ensure that any violent organization operating here in Suffolk County will be taken down and have their members brought to justice.”

Sheriff Errol Toulon said the "multi-year investigation demonstrates the power of coordinated intelligence sharing and interagency cooperation."

"The Mak Balla Family represents a dangerous threat to our communities, and we are committed to bringing these gang members to justice,” he said. "The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office is proud to support this investigation with intelligence that helped bring this operation down."

Suffolk Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina noted that members and associates of the Mak Balla Family "spent years spreading violence and narcotics, all to further their gang’s status while wreaking havoc" in the county's communities."

"We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to ensure those attempting to undermine public safety are held accountable," he added.

The defendants are alleged to be members and associates of the nationally recognized set of the Bloods street gang known as MBF or local associated street gangs of MBF known as 4Eva Rich or 4R, and Real Ni--az Only, or RNO, according to Tierney's office.

The members of the MBF adhere to a strict oath, commandments, rules, and hierarchy focusing on the primary goals of increasing their dominance and status as a gang through armed violence, illicit narcotics sales, and robberies, Tierney said.

The narcotics sales and armed robberies are specifically motivated to make money for gang coffers and for the defendants to post about their apparent extravagant lifestyle on social media, according to Tierney.

In early 2022, the DA's investigators, together with Suffolk police detectives, began investigating a series of violent acts allegedly committed by members of MBF, and working with assistant district attorneys of the VCE Bureau over the course of three years, investigators executed around 100 search warrants into homes, and digital sources, to gather evidence and intelligence about members and associates of MBF, 4R, and RNO, which revealed the "sprawling and extensive criminal conduct" committed by the defendants dating back to January 2021, Tierney's office said.

It is alleged that, between August 2021 to April 2025, MBF, 4R, and RNO members and their associates operated throughout Long Island, but primarily centered in the Suffolk communities of Mastic, Mastic Beach, Shirley, and Coram, according to Tierney.

Members of MBF sought to establish dominance over their gang rival Blood sets, primarily the Blood Hound Brims, or BHB, street gang, by committing shootings and violence aimed at their rival gang members.

Similarly, members of the associated 4R and RNO gangs tried to establish reputations in these smaller gangs to enhance their own reputation and credibility within larger, more recognized gangs like MBF, Tierney said.

In February 2024, Tierney announced a 103-count indictment charging 31 members and associates of the MBF rival BHB gang for violence including 18 shootings, three armed robberies, and the recovery of 12 illegal weapons, according to Tierney.

Much of the violence charged in the BHB indictment was directed towards members of the MBF, and the retaliation for some of that violence committed by MBF towards members of BHB is charged in the new indictment, Tierney said.

This violence was orchestrated and ordered by high-ranking MBF members, and generally carried out by lower-ranking members who would receive approval or promotions within the gang upon completion of the violence, according to Tierney.

Members of the organizations had instructions to “shoot on sight,” meaning shoot to kill rival gang members whenever MBF members saw a rival, day or night, Tierney said.

As stated, MBF members and associates allegedly adhered to an oath, strict set of commands and established hierarchy formalized in writing, which was distributed to MBF members upon
admission into the gang, according to Tierney.

MBF members pledged loyalty and adherence to the gang, specifically pledging “MBF ‘til the death" and used a distinctive system of coded words to communicate with one another verbally, to avoid detection by law enforcement and prove membership and loyalty to the gang, Tierney said.

MBF members used social media to communicate with each other and rival gang members, and frequently created and posted rap music and other videos where they would give specific details and boast about acts of violence against rivals, referred to as “opps," according to Tierney.

The defendants also sold drugs and committed robberies to acquire funds to post bail for fellow MBF members, to fund the commissary accounts of incarcerated MBF members, and for members to portray the extravagant lifestyle of an MBF member on social media, such as producing rap music and videos, renting luxury motor vehicles and purchasing expensive clothing and jewelry, Tierney said.

Some of the 38 incidents alleged in the indictment are detailed below:

Multiple Shootings In A Swiped SUV

On July 6, 2023, defendants Joel Estrella, Benjamin Jones, Brandon Bermudez, and Tavion Elting stole a white SUV from a house party that they attended on Monticello Drive in Shoreham, and over the next few days, members of the defendants used the stolen vehicle to carry out shootings at rival gang members’ homes.

On July 7, 2023, Estrella, Jones, Bermudez, and Elting allegedly fired multiple shots into the home of a rival’s home on Titmus Drive in Mastic, and two days later, on July 9, 2023, at around 2:30 a.m., Estrella, Jones, and Bermudez shot up a rival gang member’s home on Hamilton Road in Mastic Beach.

Later that day, the stolen vehicle was found shot up with a blown-out window, indicative of its use during a shootout, and inside were spent shell casings and other items.
Nobody was injured in either of these shootings.

The illegal firearm used in the shootings was subsequently recovered from Terrance Bullock on July 10, 2023.

Rival Gang Members Sought By Shooters In August 2023

A little over a month later, on Aug. 12, 2023, Estrella sought out two rival gang members in Mastic and encountered them walking in the road.

Upon spotting who he believed to be rival gang members – two teenagers who were 14 and 15 years old at the time – on Locust Drive in Mastic, Estrella and other MBF associates fired multiple shots at them, hitting one victim in the leg, and the other victim in the arm, as well as firing multiple shots into an unoccupied home.

The teens were rushed to the hospital where they underwent emergency treatment for their injuries, and both survived.

Two Armed Robberies On Sept. 3, 2023

On Sept. 3, 2023, John Rivera directed the lower-ranking MBF member Elting and others to commit multiple armed robberies, and at around 8:20 p.m., they traveled to the parking lot of a vape shop in Middle Island and approached a person sitting in a vehicle parked in the parking lot.

Elting hit the person with a handgun and took their iPhone before fleeing the scene in Rivera's vehicle.

Later that evening, at around 9:20 p.m., the defendants drove to a deli on Montauk Highway in North Bellport, where Elting and another went inside the store, brandished a silver handgun, and stole around $7,000 in cash from the state Lottery register before again fleeing in Rivera's vehicle.

Two Shootings At Rivals In Back-to-Back Nights in January 2024

On Jan. 21, 2024, at around 4:40 a.m., Ramel Rosario and Maurice Davis drove to an apartment complex in Ridge looking for rival BHB gang members, and upon arriving in the parking lot, they spotted the BHB associates seated in a vehicle parked in the parking lot and shot multiple times at the vehicle, but no one was hurt.

The next day, on Jan. 22, 2024, at around 5 a.m., Rosario and David again drove to a rival BHB associates’ home on Panamoka Trail in Ridge. Upon arriving at the home, Rosario and Davis fired multiple shots into the occupied residence, but, again, no one was hurt.

Loaded Gun Found After A Fight Inside Smith Haven Mall On Black Friday In 2024

On Nov. 29, 2024, also known as Black Friday, just after 7 p.m., Elting and others engaged in a fight with rival gang members inside of the crowded food court of Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove. During the fight, a loaded 9 mm-caliber pistol fell from Elting's pocket and onto the mall floor.

A bystander was able to kick the gun away from Elting and another bystander placed it in a safe location until it was recovered and secured by Suffolk police officers.

Narcotics Possession And Sales

During the period of the conspiracy, in addition to the violence detailed above, there were also additionally over 40 illicit narcotics sales allegedly committed by members of the MBF/4R, the proceeds of which were primarily used to fund the gang lifestyle.

During the time of the conspiracy, over 132 grams of cocaine, and over 20 grams of heroin/fentanyl were allegedly recovered through undercover operations and search warrants executed at MBF/4R members’ residences/person.

Of the 22 defendants, 20 have been arrested, and 13 have been arraigned, and of the 22 defendants charged, 16 are in custody and two are currently at large.

The indicted defendants include:
1. Jasheme Fearon, also known as Gramz, 32, of Middle Island, who faces a top count of second-degree attempted murder and up to 25 years in prison. The charges are bail-eligible. He is in custody and awaiting arraignment. It was not immediately clear if he has legal representation.

2. John Rivera, also known as Shiesty, 26, of East Patchogue, who faces a top count of second-degree conspiracy and up to 8 1⁄3 to 25 years in prison, if sentenced as a persistent violent mandatory offender. The charges are bail-eligible. He is being held on $200,000 cash, $500,000 bond, or $2,500,000 partially secured bond. His attorney, Steve Fondulis of Port Jefferson, did not respond to a request for comment.

3. Brendan Ryan, also known as Bibby, 25, of Sayville, faces a top count of second-degree conspiracy and up to 12 1⁄2 to 25 years in prison. His charges are bail-eligible. He is being held on $ 250,000 cash, $500,000 bond, or $2,500,000 partially secured bond. His attorney, Robert Macedonio of Islip Terrace, said he entered a plea of not guilty to all charges. "We are waiting for the prosecution to provide us with all discovery material and look forward to vigorously defending Mr. Ryan in the court of law," he added.

4. Kavon Birt, also known as KB, 19, of Mastic Beach, faces a top count of second-degree conspiracy and up to 8 1⁄3 to 25 years in prison. His charges are bail-eligible. He is currently at large. It was not immediately clear if he has legal representation.

5. Justin Birt, also known as JB, 19, of Mastic, faces a top count of second-degree conspiracy and up to 8 1⁄3 to 25 years in prison. His charges are bail-eligible. He is currently at large. It was not immediately clear if he has legal representation.

6. Bernardo Accardi, also known as Bernie and BMAK, 19, of Yaphank, faces a top count of second-degree attempted murder and up to 25 years in prison. Accardi’s charges are bail-eligible. He is being held on $200,000 cash, $400,000 bond, or $2,000,000 partially secured bond. His attorney, Pierre Bazile of Huntington Station, said his client "has no prior criminal history whatsoever he maintains his innocence." "We deny his involvement with this criminal organization and we intend to vigorously defend this action, he added.

7. Tavion Elting, also known as Tay Tay and T-Dot, 18, of East Patchogue, faces a top count of first-degree robbery and up to 25 years in prison. His charges are bail-eligible. He is being held on $400,000 cash, $800,000 bond, or $4,000,000 partially secured bond. His attorney, John Halverson of Patchogue, could not be reached for comment.

8. Joel Estrella, also known as Flakko and Tiny, 18, of Mount Sinai, faces a top count of second-degree attempted murder and up to 25 years in prison. His charges are bail-eligible. He is being held on $400,000 cash, $800,000 bond, or $4,000,000 partially secured bond. His attorney, Keith O’Halloran of Westhampton Beach, said his client denies all the allegations contained in the indictment, as well as those made by the District Attorney's office." "We look forward to challenging each and every piece of purported evidence in this case," he added.

9. Ramel Rosario, also known as Mel and Bincappin 21, of Mastic Beach, faces a top count of second-degree conspiracy and up to 8 1⁄3 to 25 years in prison. Rosario’s charges are bail-eligible. He is being held on $400,000 cash, $800,000 bond, or $4,000,000 partially secured bond. His attorney, Matthew Touhy of Huntington, said his client maintains his innocence.

10. Benjamin Jones, also known as Ski, 18, of Mastic Beach, faces a top count of second-degree conspiracy and up to 8 1⁄3 to 25 years in prison. His charges are bail-eligible. He is being remanded without bail. His attorney, Ian Fitzgerald of Central Islip, said, "Mr. Jones is presumed innocent, he maintains his innocence, and we will vigorously defend against these allegations."

11. Brandon Bermudez, also known as B-Dot, 23, of the Bronx, faces a top count of second-degree conspiracy and up to 8 1⁄3 to 25 years in prison. His charges are bail-eligible. He was arrested in Florida and is in custody awaiting extradition proceedings. It was not immediately clear if he has legal representation.

12. Maurice Davis, also known as Ruga, 19, of Mastic Beach, faces a top count of second-degree conspiracy and up to 8 1⁄3 to 25 years in prison. His charges are bail-eligible. He is being held on $200,000 cash, $400,000 bond, or $2,000,000 partially secured bond. His attorney, Christopher Gioe of Hauppauge, said that his client maintains his innocence, but declined further comment because he has not been provided with enough information by the DA's "to provide a cogent statement.

13. Landre Simmons, also known as Gucci, 25, of Wyandanch, faces a top count of second-degree conspiracy, a Class “B” felony, and up to 8 1⁄3 to 25 years in prison. Simmons’ charges are bail-eligible. He is in custody awaiting arraignment. It was not immediately clear if he has legal representation.

14. Terrance Bullock, also known as T-Block, 18, of Wyandanch, faces a top count of fourth-degree conspiracy and up to 1 1⁄3 to 4 years in prison. His charges are not bail-eligible. He is currently on supervised release. His attorney, Tara Laterza of East Moriches, did not respond to a request for comment.

15. Dameshia Legros, also known as Coco and Smurt, 23, of Flanders, faces a top count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and up to 15 years in prison. Legros’s charges are bail-eligible. She is being held on $50,000 cash, $100,000 bond, or $500,000 partially secured bond. Her attorney, Robert Santucci of Westhampton Beach, declined to comment on his client's case.

16. Travis Frick, also known as TKAY and Fendi Loc, 18, of Central Islip faces a top count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and up to 15 years in prison. His charges are bail-eligible. He is being held on $400,000 cash, $800,000 bond, or $4,000,000 partially secured bond. His attorney, Oscar Crisafio of Central Islip, could not be immediately reached.

17. Anthony Cullum, also known as Ant, 17, of Mastic, faces a top count of first-degree robbery and up to 25 years in prison. His charges are bail-eligible. He is in custody awaiting arraignment. His attorney, Lindsay Henry of Babylon, did not respond to a request for comment.

18. Jaylen Hubbard, also known as Spazz, 16, of Mastic, faces a top count of first-degree robbery and up to 25 years in prison. The charges are bail-eligible. He is in custody awaiting arraignment. It was not immediately clear if he has legal representation.

19. Tionce Laird, also known as Mullah, 23, of Wheatley Heights, faces top counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and up to nine years in prison. Laird’s charges are not bail-eligible. Laird is currently on supervised release. Her attorney, Danielle Papa of Hauppauge, said her client denies the allegations against her and looks forward to defending herself in court."

20. Elijah Mora, also known as Emora 26, of Coram, faces top counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, and up to nine years in prison. His charges are not bail-eligible. He is being held on bail on an unrelated case. His attorney, Jason Bassett of Central Islip, did not respond to a request for comment.

21. William Bica, 32, of Mastic Beach, faces a top count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and up to seven years in prison. His charges are bail-eligible. He is currently at liberty after posting bond. His attorney, Matthew Touhy of Huntington, said his client maintains his innocence.

22. Oumar Loum, 24, of Mastic Beach, faces top counts of second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and up to nine years in prison. His charges are not bail-eligible. Loum is awaiting arraignment on the indictment. His attorney, Matthew Touhy of Huntington, said his client maintains his innocence.