Posted on: August 27, 2019 02:00 PM

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15 reputed members of Queens street gang charged in long term drug and firearm investigation

Queens Acting District Attorney John M. Ryan, joined by New York City Police Commissioner James P. O?Neill, today announced the filing of criminal charges against 15 reputed members of the Hollis-based Henderson New York street gang ? including many of their top players ? for the sale of drugs and firearms and other crimes. Additionally, several of the defendants were charged with attempted murder for the unsuccessful hit on a rival gang member in the vicinity of the Baisley Park Houses last year. Thirteen defendants are in custody and two are presently being sought. The street gang, which also refers to itself as HNY, takes its name from Henderson Avenue, a Hollis, Queens, thoroughfare.

Over the course of the investigation, police allegedly recovered 10 illegal firearms and more than a kilo of cocaine. Through-court-authorized wiretaps, investigators also gained knowledge that the organization stashed communal gang firearms in various locations, including trap compartments in vehicles as well as a barbecue grill at one individual?s residence. The communal guns were allegedly shared among gang members to use in shootings.

Acting District Attorney Ryan said, ?The defendants are accused of peddling death by trafficking in the sale of illegal drugs and firearms. Today?s arrests, targeting the gang?s alleged leaders, will put a significant dent in the drug trafficking and drug-related violence plaguing the area. I want to commend the New York City Police Department?s Gun Violence Suppression Division for their hard work. We will continue to fight crime with our law enforcement partners to rid our streets of illegal drugs and firearms.?

Commissioner O?Neill said, ?This long-term investigation illustrates the NYPD?s commitment to precision policing and our mission to making the city even safer. The NYPD and the Queens District Attorney?s Office will never tolerate drugs, guns and violence in our communities. I want to thank the acting Queens DA and the investigators who worked on this case.?

TheDistrict Attorney?s Office identified the main HNY defendants as DwayneBratton,Jerrel Henderson and Hanif Campbell who are charged, along with three others, in a seven-count indictment with plotting to kill a rival gang member in the vicinity of the Baisley Park Houses on May 6, 2018. According to the charges, Henderson, 18, shot at the rival gang member but failed to hit him.

In anotherindictment, Wallace Stevenson, 57, and Darron Swinnie, 27, are accused of being father-and-son drug dealers who distributed cocaine throughout the Hollis, Queens, area. On one occasion ? January 31, 2019 ? the pair is charged with selling more than 200 grams (equal to more than seven ounces) of cocaine.

According to the witness intimidation indictment, said Acting DA Ryan, a 23-year-old man was physically attacked during a verbal dispute in a McDonald?s parking lot on Springfield Boulevard in September 2018 by the defendants Isaac Wheeler and Khoran Simmons, both of whom were 16 at the time of the incident. The victim suffered bruising to his ribs and eye, as well as a laceration to the cheek that required stitches. Eight months later, on May 31, 2019, Wheeler, along with two others, are alleged to have stabbed the victim?s brother in an effort to intimidate the September victim into dropping the criminal charges. The stabbing victim suffered a puncture wound to his back that required surgery.

The investigation, which was jointly conducted by the NYPD?s Gun Violence Suppression Division and the Queens District Attorney?s Narcotics Investigation Bureau, began in September 2017 and revealed a narcotics and firearms trafficking organization that allegedly also included three brothers ? Clifford Heyward, Erik Heyward and Devante Heyward ? and Kareem Brown who ? while acting in concert with each other as well as several apprehended and unapprehended other individuals ? did possess and sell narcotics and firearms in Queens County and elsewhere in New York State. That investigation resulted in 11 arrests and, in turn, led authorities to the HNY gang.

The investigations utilized various investigative techniques, including intercepting telephone calls, GPS location monitoring and physical surveillance.

The investigation was conducted by officers assigned to the NYPD?s Gun Violence Suppression Division, under the overall supervision of Chief James Essig, Inspector Richard Freen, Captain Thomas Passolo, Lieutenant William Buchanan and Sergeants Benjamin Nelson and Daniel Nicoletti. Detective Jeremy DeMarco was the case detective and Detective John McHugh was the assistant case detective.

Assistant District Attorney Diana M. Schioppi, of the District Attorney?s Narcotics Investigations Bureau, is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Wilbert J. LeMelle, Bureau Chief, Mark L. Katz and Julie S. Trivedi, Deputy Bureau Chiefs, Philip D. Anderson, Section Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Peter A. Crusco.

It should be noted that indictments and felony complaints are merely accusations and that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

13 defendants in custody

JALEN ANDERSON, 19, of Queens, was arraigned on August 21, 2019, in Queens Supreme Court on three indictments charging him with second- and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, third- and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and other crimes. Anderson, who faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted, was ordered held on $150,000 bail.

DWAYNE BRATTON, 19, of Queens, was arraigned on August 21, 2019, before Queens Supreme Court Justice Charles Lopresto on two separate indictments charging himwith second-degree attempted murder, first-degree attempted assault, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, first-degree reckless endangerment, third-degree criminal mischief and other crimes. The defendant was held on $100,000 bail and ordered to return to court on December 2, 2019. If convicted, Bratton faces up to 25 years in prison.

HANIF CAMPBELL, 21, of Queens, was arraigned on August 22, 2019, before Acting Queens Supreme Court Justice Stephanie Zaro on a 7-count indictment charging him with second-degree attempted murder, first-degree attempted assault, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, first-degree reckless endangerment and third-degree criminal mischief. The defendant was held on $150,000 bail. If convicted, Campbell faces up to 25 years in prison.

DONALD GUNTHER, 26, of Queens, was arraigned in Queens Supreme Court on August 22, 2019, on a 4-count indictment charging him with first-degree tampering with a witness and second-degree assault. If convicted, Gunther faces up to 25 years in prison.

CUBA HANFORD, 19, of Queens, was arraigned on August 21, 2019, before Queens Supreme Court Justice Charles Lopresto on a 4-count indictment charging him with second-degree attempted murder, first-degree tampering with a witness and second-degree assault. The defendant was held on $50,000 bail and ordered to return to court on September 5, 2019. If convicted, Hanford faces up to 25 years in prison.

JERREL HENDERSON, 18, of Queens, was arraigned on August 21, 2019, before Queens Supreme Court Justice Charles Lopresto on a 7-count indictment charging him with second-degree attempted murder, first-degree attempted assault, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, first-degree reckless endangerment and third-degree criminal mischief. The defendant was held on $150,000 bail and ordered to return to court on October 2, 2019. If convicted, Henderson faces up to 25 years in prison.

MYLES HENDRICKS, 20, of Queens, was arraigned on August 21, 2019 before Queens Supreme Court Justice Charles Lopresto on a 7-count indictment charging him with second-degree attempted murder, first-degree attempted assault, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, first-degree reckless endangerment and third-degree criminal mischief. The defendant was held on $50,000 bail and ordered to return to court on October 3, 2019. If convicted, Hendricks faces up to 25 years in prison.

JAHRED HENRY, 20, of Queens, was arraigned on Wednesday, August 21, 2019, before Queens Supreme Court Justice Charles Lopresto on two indictments charging him with second- and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and other crimes.

The defendant was held on $50,000 bail and ordered to return to court on September 24, 2019. If convicted, the defendant faces up to15 years in prison.

TAHJAY PALMER, 19, of Queens, was arraigned on August 21, 2019, before Queens Supreme Court Justice Charles Lopresto on two indictments charging himwith second-degree attempted murder, first-degree attempted assault, second degree criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, first-degree reckless endangerment, thirddegree criminal mischief and other crimes. The defendant was held on $150,000 bail. If convicted, Palmer faces up to 25 years in prison.

KHORAN SIMMONS, 17, of Queens, was arraigned on August 22, 2019, before Acting Queens Supreme Court Justice Stephanie Zaro on an indictment charging him with second- and third-degree assault and second-degree harassment. The defendant was released on his own recognizance. If convicted, Simmons faces up to seven years in prison.

WALLACE STEVENSON, 57, of Queens, was arraigned on August 21, 2019, before Queens Supreme Court Justice Charles Lopresto on an indictment charging him with first- and third-degree criminal sale of