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Two Men Sentenced for Murder During Armed Robbery in Brooklyn
Charles Powell, also known as ‘Payback,’ and Musah Coward, also known as ‘General Mecka,’ ‘Red,’ and ‘General Red,’ were sentenced to 42 years’ imprisonment and 45 years’ imprisonment, respectively, for their roles in the murder of a security guard and wounding of three others during an armed robbery of a gambling location in Brooklyn.
The defendants, along with co-defendant Brian Castro, who was previously sentenced to 45 years’ imprisonment by Judge Eric Komitee in December 2025, were convicted in January 2025 following a three-week trial.
As part of their sentences, Powell and Coward were ordered to pay restitution, including $26,730 to the victim’s daughter.
The incident occurred on October 7, 2020, when Powell and Castro entered an illegal gambling location in Brownsville while Coward waited outside in the car. During the robbery, Powell and Castro each shot Rodney Maxwell, a father of three, who had been providing security for the location and was also a longtime employee at Bellevue Hospital.
Maxwell later died from his gunshot wounds, and three additional victims were shot that evening, all of whom survived their wounds.
The government’s case was handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section, with Assistant United States Attorneys Andy Palacio, Megan Larkin, and Raffaela Belizaire leading the prosecution.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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