Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

A 21-count superseding indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging 36 defendants—including members, associates and co-conspirators of the New York City-based street gang known as the “Bully Gang”—with conspiring to distribute drugs, firearms trafficking and money laundering, among other crimes. Twelve defendants were arrested today in the New York area and will be arraigned today before United States Magistrate Judge Lois Bloom. Four defendants will be arraigned this afternoon in the District of Maine, and one each in the Northern District of New York and the Northern District of Georgia. Three defendants were in custody in Maine and will be arraigned at a later date. Several members of the conspiracy were previously arrested and charged in June 2020. Two defendants are expected to report to Brooklyn for arraignment next week, and three additional defendants remain at large.

Seth D. DuCharme, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, John B. DeVito, Special Agent-in-Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New York (ATF), and Dermot F. Shea, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the charges.

“This violent drug organization endangered communities across the northeast, trafficking crack cocaine, heroin and fentanyl into towns in Maine and guns from Maine onto the streets of New York City,” stated Acting United States Attorney DuCharme. “The superseding indictment and today’s arrests are the result of our continuing efforts alongside our great partners in the ATF and NYPD to dismantle and disarm violent gangs.”

“These defendants, as alleged, not only poisoned communities throughout the east coast with dangerous narcotics, but trafficked firearms from Maine to New York City, fueling gang violence on our streets. Today’s arrests reaffirm ATF’s commitment to public safety and end the reign of a violent, multi-state, criminal organization,” stated ATF Special Agent-in-Charge DeVito.

“These alleged gang members, as outlined in the federal indictment, left a trail of crimes from Brooklyn to Maine. But working closely, our NYPD investigators and federal partners were relentless in making sure they would be brought to justice,” stated NYPD Commissioner Shea.

As set for in the superseding indictment and other court filings, the defendants were members of a drug trafficking conspiracy responsible for trafficking large quantities of cocaine base (“crack”), heroin and fentanyl through New York to Maine and elsewhere. Multiple Bully Gang members and associates from Brooklyn were sent from New York to Maine to operate “stash” houses that were used to store and sell narcotics. The organization’s drug proceeds were collected on a regular basis by runners who used vehicles with hidden “trap” compartments to conceal narcotics and drug proceeds. The proceeds were then laundered through direct cash deposits and wire transfers to co-conspirators, through intermediary bank accounts and the purchase of luxury vehicles.

Several co-conspirators allegedly purchased illegal firearms to protect the organization and its members. Facebook communications reveal that in August 2017, defendant Nicolette Tompkins purchased a Ruger firearm for co-conspirator Bermon Clarke, which was later seized by law enforcement in Brooklyn. Defendants Clarke, Keon Grant, Nadine Heath and Joanne Lydem participated in the August 2019 purchase of an illegal firearm. As part of that transaction, Grant informed Clarke that Lydem would “get the grip”—meaning purchase the firearm. Subsequently, when asked whether Lydem brought “the case the grip was in,” Grant sent Clarke a photograph of a gun box for a Glock pistol, confirming the purchase.

During the government’s investigation, stash houses and vehicles used by the defendants were searched in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Maine. Law enforcement seized more than $380,000 in cash, more than 15 illegal firearms, six kilograms of cocaine, 600 grams of fentanyl, four vehicles with concealed “trap” compartments and luxury watches.

The charges in the superseding indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Drew G. Rolle, Nicholas J. Moscow and Lindsey R. Oken are in charge of the prosecution.

The Defendants:

JESSICA ALMEIDA
Age: 33
Detroit, Maine

TYRONE BANKS (also known as “Ty Hitta”)
Age: 23
Brooklyn, New York

JANET BLOOD
Age: 47
Troy, Maine

DAYVON BOSTICK-SAMUELS (also known as “Daytoe”)
Age: 22
Brooklyn, New York

MIKE GUSTAVO CONNOR (also known as “Gus”)
Age: 21
Brooklyn, New York

RASHAAD CRAIG (also known as “Skeeno”)
Age: 25
Brooklyn, New York

QUENTIN DELVALLE (also known as “Q”)
Age: 24
Brooklyn, New York

ELIZABETH DUECASTER
Age: 35
Searsport, Maine

CHRISTINA ESTEVEZ
Age: 31
Queens, New York

ERICA FAGGIOLE
Age: 44
Maine

ANTONIO FULTON (also known as “Tone”)
Age: 23
Staten Island, New York

ROMEO GONZALES
Age: 22
Brooklyn, New York

KEON GRANT (also known as “Keys”)
Age: 34
Brooklyn, New York

NADINE HEATH
Age: 54
Troy, Maine

TYQUAWN LANE (also known as “Bicks” and “Tah Tah”)
Age: 27
Brooklyn, New York

JOANNE LYDEM
Age: 49
Garland, Maine

TANEJIA MOORE
Age: 26
Brooklyn, New York

CHRISHAWN PENN (also known as “Prince”)
Age: 26
Brooklyn, New York

MICHAEL PEREZ (also known as “White Mike”)
Age: 29
Brooklyn, New York

JOELLE POCHE (also known as “Rico”)
Age: 21
Brooklyn, New York

MICHAEL REID (also known as “Half”)
Age: 39
Brooklyn, New York

ISAIAH TERRY SANDIFORD
Age: 21
Brooklyn, New York

CHINASA STRACHAN
Age: 33
Brooklyn, New York

NICOLETTE TOMPKINS
Age: 22
Westfield, Maine

DANIELLE WHITE
Age: 47
Swanville, Maine

DEVIN-JOHN JASON WILLIAMS (also known as “Pun” and “Fat Boy”)
Age: 28
Brooklyn, New York

Defendants Previously Indicted:

DERRICK AYERS (also known as “Dee” and “Mel”)
Age: 34
Rahway, New Jersey

BERMON CLARKE (also known as “G” and “Blue”)
Age: 28
Rahway, New Jersey

FRANKLIN GILLESPIE (also known as “Spazz” and “Frankie Gino”)
Age: 30
Newark, New Jersey

NIA GOVAN (also known as “Cam” and “V”)
Age: 29
Boston, Massachusetts

AMANDA HUARD
Age: 38
Raymond, Maine

ANTHONY KENNEDY (also known as “Biggie”)
Age: 34
Queens, New York

JESSICA PELKEY
Age: 26
Presque Isle, Maine

AMY SONNENBLICK
Age: 48
Brooklyn, New York

AMANDA WALTON (also known as “A”)
Age: 32
Portland, Maine

DEMETTRIUS WRIGHT (also known as “Clean” and “Meexhi Brim”)
Age: 23
Brooklyn, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-239 (S-2) (BMC)

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