DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Southern District of New York

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Preet Bharara
, United States Attorney

Nine Defendants Charged in White Plains Federal Court with Narcotics and Firearms Offenses as Part of the Yellow Tape Money Gang in Newburgh

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Diego Rodriguez, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Delano Reid, the New York Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”), Joseph A. D’Amico, the Superintendent of the New York State Police (“NYSP”), Daniel C. Cameron, the Chief of the City of Newburgh Police Department, and Bruce Campbell, the Chief of the Town of Newburgh Police Department, today announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging a total of nine defendants with committing various narcotics and firearms offenses as part of an organization known as the “Yellow Tape Money Gang”  in Newburgh, New York.
 
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated: “These defendants allegedly sought to invoke the violence of a crime scene by calling themselves the ‘Yellow Tape Money Gang,’ and using this vivid imagery, they allegedly pumped large quantities of crack cocaine into the streets of Newburgh.  Those who deal in these dangerous drugs destroy communities and fuel a cycle of drug-induced violence.  Working with our partners at the FBI, ATF, the New York State police, and the Newburgh Police Department, we seek to stamp out this type of drug trade in Newburgh.”
 
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Diego Rodriguez stated: “We believe the arrests today will make a significant dent in the violent crime that has been escalating recently in the City of Newburgh.  Our actions should also serve as a warning to others that the FBI Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force and the City of Newburgh Police Department are not going away.  If gang members and drug pushers choose to fill the void left behind today, we will be there tomorrow, and the next day and the next, to protect the law abiding citizens in the City of Newburgh.”
 
ATF New York Special Agent in Charge Delano Reid stated: “ATF’s mission to combat gun violence in our community remains our highest priority.  The crimes committed by this organization will not be tolerated by the ATF or our law enforcement partners.  We will continue to work tirelessly until gangs like the Yellow Tape Money Gang, and others that would follow their destructive patterns, no longer terrorize the citizens of Newburgh.”
 
As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in White Plains federal court As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the descriptions of the Indictment set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.:
 
From at least October 2015 through May 2016, TYRIN GAYLE, a/k/a “Spazzo,” LAQUAN FALLS, a/k/a “Greedy,” GABRIEL WARREN, a/k/a “Stackz,” DAVID BROWN, a/k/a “Baby Thot,” BRENDAN GERMAINE, a/k/a “Brandan Germain,” RASHUN EVANS, LAQUAVIOUS BOYKIN, BRITTANY HALL, and CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON, conspired to sell crack cocaine in and around Newburgh, New York, referring to themselves as the “Yellow Tape Money Gang,” or “YTMG” for short.  The conspiracy was led, at different times, by GAYLE, FALLS, and WARREN. 
 
In May 2016, EVANS used, carried, and possessed a firearm in furtherance of the crack cocaine conspiracy in which he was a member.
 
According to statements made during bail hearings this afternoon, YTMG members advertised their affiliation with their drug trafficking organization through posts on social media websites such as Facebook.  Based on these posts, law enforcement learned that the “Yellow Tape Money Gang” name referred to the yellow caution tape that law enforcement uses to cordon off dead bodies following a murder.  The reference was apparently meant as a warning to rival gang members that they would need yellow tape if they crossed YTMG.  These Facebook posts included photographs and videos of YTMG members with what appear to be guns, large amounts of cash, and narcotics.  At least three firearms were seized during the execution of search warrants this morning in connection with the arrests.
 

*                      *                     *

Nine defendants were taken into federal custody this morning.  These defendants were presented in White Plains federal court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul E. Davison.
                       
Charts containing the names of the defendants who were charged today, and the charges and maximum penalties they face, are attached.  The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants would be determined by the respective judges.
 
Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI, ATF, the New York State Police, the City of Newburgh Police Department, the Town of Newburgh Police Department, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
 
These cases are being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division.  Assistant United States Attorneys Maurene Comey, Jacqueline Kelly, and Lauren Schorr are in charge of the prosecutions.
 
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
__________________
As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the descriptions of the Indictment set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
 
16-145
               

United States v. Tyrin Gayle, et al., 16 Cr. 361

 

CHARGE(S)

DEFENDANT(S)

MAXIMUM PENALTIES

Narcotics conspiracy

(Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine.)

TYRIN GAYLE,

    a/k/a “Spazzo,”

LAQUAN FALLS,

    a/k/a “Greedy,”

GABRIEL WARREN,

    a/k/a “Stackz”

DAVID BROWN,

    a/k/a “Baby Thot,”

BRENDAN GERMAINE,

    a/k/a “Brandan Germain,”

RASHUN EVANS,

LAQUAVIOUS BOYKIN,

BRITTANY HALL, and

CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON

40 years in prison

 

Mandatory minimum:
five years in prison

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

 

RASHUN EVANS

Life in prison

 

Mandatory minimum:
five years in prison, to be imposed consecutively to any other sentence

                          

New York Field Division