Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Earlier today, Joshua Padmore pleaded guilty at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn to a conspiracy to distribute crack, heroin and fentanyl, robbery conspiracy and possessing a handgun as a convicted felon for his role in an armed robbery of a drug stash house. Today’s plea took place before United States District Judge Edward R. Korman. When sentenced, Padmore faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment and a maximum of 40 years’ imprisonment for the drug conspiracy charge, up to 20 years’ imprisonment for the robbery charge, and up to 10 years’ imprisonment for possessing a handgun as a convicted felon. Padmore is the final of six defendants to plead guilty in the case.

Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent-in-Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New York Field Division (ATF), and James P. O’Neill, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the guilty plea.

According to court documents, on February 7, 2016, Padmore, Andre Shanks, Carlos Welch, Jr., and Qualese Welch planned to rob a drug stash house located in Flushing. Carlos Welch, Jr., first went to the stash house posing as a marijuana buyer. After leaving the stash house, Carlos Welch, Jr., called Padmore, whose phone was being monitored pursuant to a court order, and reported that he had observed "pounds" of marijuana inside the house. Law enforcement agents intercepted Padmore, Shanks and Carlos Welch, Jr., discussing their plans for carrying out the robbery. While monitoring Padmore’s phone and surveilling the stash house, law enforcement agents observed a car previously used by Padmore circling the stash house. Agents stopped the car, arrested Padmore, Shanks and Qualese Welch, and recovered a loaded revolver from under Padmore’s seat. Carlos Welch, Jr., who had been in a second car, was arrested several days later in Easton, Pennsylvania.

Padmore, along with Barrington Diles, were the leaders of a crew that sold crack cocaine, heroin and fentanyl in Brooklyn. Shanks and Joseph Bergman also conspired with Padmore to sell cocaine base. Diles and Bergman previously pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges. Shanks previously pleaded guilty to robbery and drug trafficking charges. Carlos Welch, Jr., and Qualese Welch previously pleaded guilty to robbery-related charges.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mathew S. Miller and Moira Kim Penza.

Defendant Who Pleaded Guilty Today:

JOSHUA PADMORE (also known as "JJ" and "Kutty")

Age: 35

Brooklyn, New York

Defendants Who Previously Pleaded Guilty:

ANDREW SHANKS

Age: 24

Brooklyn, New York

CARLOS WELCH, JR.

Age: 25

Queens, New York

QUALESE WELCH

Age: 25

Gainesville, Georgia

BARRINGTON DILES

Age: 35

Brooklyn, New York

JOSEPH BERGMAN

Age: Not Available

Brooklyn, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 17-CR-126 (S-1) (ERK)

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