Brooklyn, NY – Arjante Moss, 27, from Downtown Brooklyn, has been indicted on charges of felony assault among others for his alleged aggressive actions against a Finance Supervising Investigator from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. The investigator was attempting to enforce a closure order at the Big Chief Exotics Smoke Shop in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, where Moss was employed.
The incident, which occurred on December 18, 2023, has led Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez to pursue serious legal action, reflecting the zero-tolerance policy for assaults on law enforcement personnel in Brooklyn.
According to DA Gonzalez, Moss not only participated in illegal cannabis sales by working at an unlicensed shop but escalated the situation by allegedly attacking the state investigator tasked with shutting down the establishment.
John Harford, Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, emphasized the importance of protecting criminal investigators engaged in critical law enforcement work, thanking DA Gonzalez for his dedication to prosecuting the case.
Moss was arraigned before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun, facing charges of second-degree assault, obstructing governmental administration, and harassment. If convicted of the top charge, Moss could face up to seven years in prison. He is currently out on bail, with a return to court scheduled for March 20, 2024.
The attack occurred when the investigator arrived to execute a closure order on the smoke shop, obtained by the Attorney General’s Office. Moss allegedly responded by pushing the investigator out of the store and trapping his arm in the door, resulting in bruises. The injured investigator received treatment at New York University Langone Hospital.