The Justice Department Monday announced charges in five cases addressing violence at New York City’s federal pretrial detention facility, the Metropolitan Detention Center, (MDC), located in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
These include charges against inmates for the murder of Uriel Whyte on June 7, the murder of Edwin Cordero on July 17, an attempted murder on April 27, and two violent assaults on Aug. 24 and 27.
The defendants, all of whom were previously ordered detained at the MDC on other charges, will be arraigned in the coming days. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
“Violence will not be tolerated in our federal jails,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “As alleged, in June and July of this year, two men detained at the MDC — Uriel Whyte and Edwin Cordero — were murdered by fellow inmates using makeshift weapons. Others at the MDC have been viciously assaulted by inmates, as alleged in the three other cases announced today.”
“Several inmates of Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center allegedly orchestrated a series of distinct violent assaults, including the murders of fellow inmates, Uriel Whyte and Edwin Cordero,” said Assistant Director in Charge James E. Dennehy of the FBI New York Field Office.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Federal Bureau of Prisons provided assistance in the investigations.
United States v. Simpson and Thomas, 24-CR-360
Andrew Simpson and Devone Thomas, who were previously detained at the MDC on racketeering and robbery charges, respectively, were indicted by a grand jury for their roles in the June 7, murder of inmate Uriel Whyte.
On the morning of June 7, following a verbal dispute between Simpson and Whyte, cellmates Simpson and Thomas armed themselves with makeshift weapons and proceeded to engage in a series of two-on-one attacks against Whyte.
The escalating violent attacks, which took place over a span of approximately 15 minutes, were committed against Whyte inside Simpson and Thomas’ shared cell, which served to hide their conduct from guards and surveillance cameras.
The attacks culminated with Whyte suffering a severe stab wound to his neck, which severed his carotid artery.
While Whyte was able to exit the cell and seek medical aid, he succumbed to his wounds shortly thereafter, despite the efforts of onsite medical personnel and responding paramedics.
Simpson and Thomas are charged with murder in a federal detention facility, assault in a federal detention facility, obstruction of justice, and possession of contraband in prison for their roles in fatally stabbing Whyte at the MDC.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Maffei, Sophia Suarez, and Elizabeth D’Antonio for the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case.
United States v. Aziz, Bazemore and Santiago, 24-CR-380
On Sept. 24, a grand jury in the Eastern District of New York indicted Jamaul Aziz (aka “Bugz”), James Bazemore (aka “TJ” and “RS”), and Alberto Santiago (aka “Kom” and “Dotcom”) for their roles in the July 17 murder of fellow inmate Edwin Cordero at the MDC. Aziz and Santiago were previously detained for gun and drug crimes, while Bazemore was held for racketeering, murder, and firearms charges. All three have admitted guilt in their prior cases.
On the afternoon of July 17, after a prior altercation between Santiago and the victim, Santiago, Aziz, and Bazemore met several times. Santiago then confronted Cordero again, both armed with makeshift weapons. Aziz and Bazemore soon joined, and the three-cornered and attacked Cordero.
Cordero briefly escaped, but Bazemore continued to assault him, allowing Santiago to stab him in the chest, injuring his heart. Bazemore then stabbed Cordero in the back, and the group repeatedly attacked him, even as he fell and tried to shield himself.
United States v. Luis Rivas, 24-CR-390
A grand jury indicted Luis Rivas today on charges of attempted murder, assault, and possession of contraband in a federal detention facility for his role in the April 27 attack on another inmate at the MDC.
At the time, Rivas was being held at the MDC following his conviction on racketeering and assault charges related to his membership in the MS-13 gang.
On the morning of April 27, Rivas and two other MS-13 members violently attacked another inmate who was sitting peacefully. Rivas approached, pulled a makeshift weapon from his waistband, and stabbed the victim. The other two gang members joined in, punching and stabbing the victim multiple times.
The victim, who suffered around 44 stab wounds to his back, chest, abdomen, arm, and legs, was taken to the MDC medical unit and later transferred to a hospital for treatment.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean M. Sherman is prosecuting the case.
United States v. Bruce Silva and Hassan Elliott, 24-MJ-556
Bruce Silva and Hassan Elliott were charged with assault in a federal detention facility for their role in the Aug. 27 attack on another inmate at the MDC.
At the time, Silva was detained on charges in the Southern District of New York, including racketeering, narcotics conspiracy, firearms offenses, and attempted murder linked to his role in multiple shootings as part of the “Dub City” gang in the Bronx. Elliott was detained on 29 charges in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, including the murder of a Philadelphia Police Sergeant, racketeering, three other murders, and various firearms and drug offenses tied to his involvement in the “1700 Scattergood” drug trafficking organization in Northeast Philadelphia.
On Aug. 27, Silva and Elliott attempted to attack another inmate in their housing unit, armed with makeshift weapons. When a fourth inmate intervened, Silva stabbed him in the spine with a makeshift icepick, leaving the weapon protruding from his back. Despite this, Silva and Elliott continued their attack on both the stabbing victim and their original target.
United States v. Leury Mojica, 24-MJ-559
Leury Mojica has been charged with assaulting a federal officer. According to the complaint, on Aug. 24, Mojica punched a corrections officer in the face after being offered breakfast.
Mojica was already detained at the MDC on a Hobbs Act robbery charge and had previously been involved in a violent stabbing of another inmate, which was considered during his May sentencing in the Southern District of New York.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Berman is prosecuting the case.