Morrisania News: 63 ‘Bloods’ Members Indicted on Murder, Drugs

Morrisania News: 63 ‘Bloods’ Members Indicted on Murder, Drugs: 63 ‘Bloods’ Members Indicted on Murder, Drugs BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 10 - District Attorney Robert T. Johnson and New York City Police ...

63 ‘Bloods’ Members Indicted on Murder, Drugs

63 ‘Bloods’ Members Indicted on Murder, Drugs

BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 10- District Attorney Robert T. Johnson and New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton announced the arrests and indictment of 63 reputed ‘Bloods’ gang members and associates following a two-year-long joint investigation which began following an increase in shooting incidents. 

The spike in shootings occurred in the vicinity of 169^th Street and Washington Avenue, an area known as ‘The Nine’ in the Morrisania section of the Bronx. Much of the gang affiliated violence occurred in and around two New York City Housing Authority developments, the Webster Houses and the Gouverneur Morris Houses.

All 63 ‘Bloods’ affiliated ‘Mac Ballas’ named in the 109 count indictment are charged with multiple counts of conspiracy to traffic in illegal narcotics including heroin, crack cocaine, powdered cocaine, and the prescription drugs Oxycodone and Percocet. Transactions involving the illegal drugs occurred not only in the Bronx but in Chelsea, East Harlem and the Lower East Side in Manhattan, Binghamton, New York, and Tuckahoe, New York.

The defendants are also charged with conspiring to commit two murders, four attempted murders, a kidnapping, several assaults, home invasion robberies and burglaries, as well as criminal possession of firearms on numerous occasions.

The charges in the indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Johnson said, “All law enforcement personnel involved in this investigation should be very proud of what has been accomplished with these arrests and this indictment which alleges an extensive catalogue of violent crimes. Our continued cooperative efforts should go a long way in helping to secure convictions of these defendants and thereby improve the quality of life for the residents of Morrisania by eradicating the murder and mayhem in their streets.”

Bratton said, “Today’s indictments send a very clear message to those criminals who prey upon our communities and recruit our youth into a culture of violence; we will work tirelessly to track you down and hold you accountable for your illegal actions.   We hope the families of the victims affected by these criminals will get some comfort in knowing that the Mac Balla Family (MBF) and their associates will be brought to justice.   I want to thank all of the agencies involved in this extensive investigation for dismantling one of the city’s most violent criminal enterprises.”

The lengthy investigation involved the use of court ordered wiretaps, video surveillance, GPS technology, as well as monitored telephone calls from gang leaders directing gang business from city and state correctional facilities. There were also purchases of various narcotic and prescription drugs by undercover investigators.

According to the indictment the defendants are accused of engaging in the conspiracy from approximately April 3, 2009 through April 7, 2014.

Each of the defendants is facing a maximum sentence of up to life imprisonment if convicted of the most serious of the conspiracy counts, Conspiracy in the First Degree, a Class A-I felony offense.

One defendant, Larry Calderon, is facing a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole if found guilty of Murder in the First Degree in the contract killing of Frank Russell in October 2011. 

It is alleged that Calderon ordered the ‘hit’ because reputed gang member Russell attempted an unauthorized home invasion robbery in which an accomplice was shot and left behind to die, in violation of the Mac Balla’s code of conduct.

Calderon has also been charged with murder in the second degree while ‘acting-in-concert’ with three men Akive Rivera, Adam Kinley, and a third un-apprehended individual, in causing Russell’s death on October 28, 2011. If convicted of Murder in the second degree the defendants would be facing a maximum sentence of up to 25 years to life imprisonment.

A second homicide charged in the indictment involved the shooting death of Mathew Simmons on June 26, 2013. Simmons, an alleged marijuana dealer, was the target of a robbery allegedly committed by Mattyias Letang, Tyrell Nash, and a third un-apprehended individual. They are facing a top count of murder in the second degree, while ‘acting-in-concert’ in causing Simmons’ death. Conviction on the top count is punishable by a maximum sentence of 25 years to life imprisonment.

The indictment includes charges against eight defendants in four attempted murders and a kidnapping. All four attempted murders were shootings at various street locations involving ‘beefs’ with members of rival gangs. Damien Matos allegedly shot Jeffrey Bolden on May 17, 2012. Russell Clark and an un-apprehended individual were charged in the shooting of Jason Rivera on June 12, 2012. Tyrell Nash was charged with the attempted murder of Jerome Roman and the assault of India Scarborough in shootings on July 1, 2012. Scarborough was a bystander caught in the line of fire. Nash was also charged in a second attempted murder, along with Mattyais Letang, in the shooting of another rival gang member, on August 13, 2013. Adam Kindley, Michael Herbin and Michael Monroe were charged with kidnapping the son of a reputed drug dealer and rapper on June 14, 2012. These defendants are facing a maximum sentence of up to 25 years imprisonment if convicted on the attempted murder, assault, and kidnapping charges. 

27 of the 63 defendants named in the indictment were already in custody on other matters when investigators began executing arrest warrants on Monday, April 7, 2014. A number of the defendants named in the indictment being announced today are also facing federal charges announced last month by the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District.

This investigation is continuing and additional arrests are expected. 15 of the 63 people indicted are still being sought by law enforcement.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Trial Assistant District Christine Scaccia.

Morrisania News: Phenomenal Start for Yankee Rookie Yangervis Solar...

Morrisania News: Phenomenal Start for Yankee Rookie Yangervis Solar...: Phenomenal Start for Yankee Rookie Yangervis Solarte By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 10- -The cycle of life can be seen...

Phenomenal Start for Yankee Rookie Yangervis Solarte

Phenomenal Start for Yankee Rookie Yangervis Solarte

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 10--The cycle of life can be seen in this year’s Yankee infield. One individual is about to depart while another is about to begin a life. Yankee captain Derek Jeter’s playing career in Major League Baseball (MLB) will end at the conclusion of this season while Yangervis Solarte made his debut in the majors last week.

The absence of Jeter will be noticed and commented upon throughout the nation. 

On the other hand, Solarte began as a Yankee with little notice. At the age of 18, the Venezuelan signed a contract with the Minnesota Twins as a non-drafted free agent. In six minor league seasons, Solarte saw limited playing time.

In the winter of 2011, he was signed as a minor league free agent by the Texas Rangers. In two full seasons at the Rangers’ Triple A affiliate in Round Rock, Solarte batted an impressive .340 and .323 in respective seasons. His combined minor league batting average was .286 in 672 games. 

The 26 year-old signed with the Yankees in January of this year as a minor league free agent. At the conclusion of the 2014 Spring Training, Solarte was moved to the Yankees roster in place of Eduardo Nuñez, who was traded to the Twins this week. Solarte earned his promotion by batting .429 (18 for 42) and driving in nine runs in 24 games. 

Solarte made his major league debut on April 2 as a pinch hitter for Kelly Johnson. His first start in the majors on the following day was an auspicious occasion as he batted 3 for 3 and drew a walk in four trips to the plate. His was not perfect at the plate in his next two road games but hit safely twice in each. This achievement made him the first Yankee since Joe DiMaggio in 1936 with at least two hits in each of his first three starts in the majors. 

In his four starts on the Yankees first road trip of the season, he hit safely 8 times in 15 at bats and drove in five runs.

The Yankee Stadium Opening Day start at third in front of a full house did not awe the neophyte major leaguer. He walked in his first trip to the plate and scored the first Yankee run of the afternoon. In his next at bat, he drove in a run with a single.

The rookie continued his hot batting in Tuesday afternoon’s humiliating 14-5 loss to Baltimore. He doubled home a run in the fourth, and in his next at bat, doubled again. According to Elias, Solarte is the first major leaguer since 1900 to hit, at least, six doubles in his first seven games.the two hits raised Solarte’s hitting streak to six games.

After Tuesday’s game, Yankee skipper Joe Girardi remarked, “I like what I see. He’s certainly taken advantage of this opportunity. We’re going to keep running him out there.”

The name of former Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez is not being currently heard at Yankee Stadium.

Morrisania News: Tanaka has arrived in the Bronx

Morrisania News: Tanaka has arrived in the Bronx: Tanaka has arrived in the Bronx  Pitching Phenom Lives Up to the Hype By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 10-  The slider, fas...

Tanaka has arrived in the Bronx

Tanaka has arrived in the Bronx 

Pitching Phenom Lives Up to the Hype

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 10- The slider, fastball, and change up came as advertised from Masahiro Tanaka and were on display for the first time in the Bronx Wednesday night. And for almost seven innings, Tanaka had the Baltimore Orioles knowing that the New York Yankees right-hander from Japan had arrived.

Nelson Cruz also knows that well, two of the 10-strikeout victims, courtesy of a nasty slider Tanaka throws that hit the dirt. The fastball also contributed to the swings, and looks at the plate that Cruz and the Orioles will see again.

It was Tanaka as advertised, and there will be more to come. The Yankees early season bullpen issues are more of an issue for manager Joe Girardi. 

Tanaka was asked about his first two starts and the early runs. He gave up a first inning home run in his first start, to Melky Cabrera up in Toronto. Wednesday night, the Orioles scored three runs in the second inning.

“Obviously that is something I need to adjust,” he said through his interpreter. “It’s really hard to make an assessment after two games.” And one veteran scout sitting up in the Yankee Stadium area press box said, “He will adjust. Wish we had him.”

A first inning fastball hit by Delmon Young, a double to the wall in left was the beginning of what will be an adjustment. It was clocked at 90, advertised as it came. But Young got a hold of it and Tanaka, will eventually adjust and learn how to get three easy outs in a Major League Baseball game first inning.

Adam Jones got caught swinging at a third strike, a 14-pitch first inning. Nelson Cruz got fooled and struck out in the second on a Tanaka fastball. Steve Lombordozzi followed with the second hit of the inning, lining a ball that got over the head of Yangervis Solarte at third.

But, Tanaka looked good against Cruz, one of the premiere hitters in baseball, with or without a steroid suspension on his resume. He got Cruz to strike out in the third inning on a slider that was in the dirt, but in that second inning, he continued to get a lesson.

Jonathan Schoop, on a 1-0 pitch, got hold of a slider that landed deep in the second deck out in left for an Orioles 3-0 lead. He would settle down, very identical to that first start up in Toronto. There were 58 pitches, 40 for strikes after three innings. He definitely can dominate, and on four days rest, another adjustment that he says will not be an issue.

“He made a mistake and kept a slider up,” commented Schoop. “I tried to make adjustments as he tried to elevate me, and then he made a mistake.”

However, Tanaka, as everyone knows will not make many mistakes. This is still a learning process of adjusting and learning the hitters here, even in his new home run yard known as Yankee Stadium. He allowed three earned runs and a walk.

“He battled out of tough jams, made pitches when he had to and got better as the night went along,” said Girardi, who added, Tanaka threw the ball okay. In the fifth inning with two on base and with two out, the score knotted at 3-3, on a 2-2 pitch he got Matt Wieters to go after a changeup in the dirt and get out of the inning, his eighth strikeout.

“He is as good as advertised,” claimed Orioles manager Buck Showalter. “

On his 101^st pitch, Tanaka got Young swinging on another slider for his 10^th strikeout and second of the sixth inning. He could have gone longer, but this is a process, now adjusting to the four day rest routine. In other words this is not the accustomed process of taking the mound every fifth day.  

He said, “I understand four days. Also it’s a long season and will go along with it.” 

The Orioles’ Adam Jones said, Tanaka is not facing the same hitters that were in Japan. “We groove, we hack.”

Jones struck out twice and singled in three at bats off Tanaka. He became the second Yankee pitcher to strike out at least eight batters in each of his first two Major League starts. The 10 strikeouts were the most by a Yankees rookie since Ivan Nova on August 4, of 2011 against the White Sox, and most for a rookie at home since 1998 in a game against Texas.

Yes, Tanaka has arrived. The Yankees may have their bullpen issues but a sensation from Japan will eventually go deeper into games. It is part of the adjustment and he comes as advertised.

Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com  Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso  www.newyorksportsexaminer.com

Morrisania News: Creep on the 4 Train

Morrisania News: Creep on the 4 Train: Creep on the 4 Train By Dan Gesslein BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 9- Police are looking for a man who molested a 13-year-old girl on...