BROOKLYN, NY — Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban have announced the indictment of 18 alleged members of the H-Block/Billy’s and Gates Fam street gangs. These individuals face charges in three separate indictories related to conspiracy to commit murder, weapons possession, and other related offenses. The charges stem from two murders and ten shooting incidents that injured ten people, including eight bystanders.
DA Gonzalez emphasized the severity of the gun violence and the youth of the defendants involved. He highlighted the comprehensive approach taken by law enforcement to address youth violence, which includes prosecuting offenders and steering young people away from gang activities. “Shooting guns in our streets will not be tolerated,” Gonzalez stated, committing to a continued focus on reducing gun violence in the community.
Commissioner Caban reiterated the NYPD’s commitment to dismantling gangs and reducing the associated violence. He praised the efforts of the NYPD investigators and the cooperation with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office, aiming to enhance public safety and target those responsible for the majority of the city’s violence.
This afternoon, the defendants are scheduled for arraignment before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justices Danny K. Chun and Craig S. Walker. They face an 85-count indictment which includes charges of second-degree murder, attempted murder, criminal possession of a weapon, assault, and conspiracy.
The indictment follows a long-term investigation by the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau and the NYPD’s Gun Violence Suppression Division. This investigation focused on gang activity in the border areas of Crown Heights and Bedford-Stuyvesant. Fifteen defendants are purported members of the H-Block/Billy’s gang, which is linked to both the 59-Brim and 9-Trey/Billy’s Bloods sets. Their known hangouts during the investigation included addresses on Herkimer and Fulton Streets in Brooklyn.