Elder, Ling, McCoy Indicted in Queens Father’s Murder

Three men—Ppassim Elder, Dwayne Ling, and Frederick McCoy—are facing federal murder and extortion charges for the October 23, 2017, execution-style killing of a Queens business owner in front of his son. The victim, a co-owner of family-run Garden Valley Distributors in Ozone Park, was shot in the face during a violent debt collection attempt. The indictment, unsealed today in Brooklyn federal court, alleges the trio acted as enforcers for Elder, known as “Sam” or “Big Sam,” after a loan to the victim’s son went unpaid.

According to court filings, Elder provided a loan to the son in early 2017 to support the grocery distribution business. By March of that year, Elder demanded full repayment—money already spent on inventory. When the son couldn’t pay, Elder launched a campaign of terror. He paid Mahdi Abdel-Rahim to throw a rock through the family’s home window, an act intended to intimidate. That failed to produce payment, so Elder escalated: he sent Ling, McCoy, and a third man to the business armed and ready to collect—by force.

On the morning of October 23, 2017, the three enforcers entered Garden Valley Distributors wearing blazers. They announced they were sent by “Sam” to collect his money. Surveillance footage and witness accounts detail the horror that followed: Ling and McCoy pistol-whipped the son across the head, then shot the father dead in cold blood. The firearm used in the attack was brandished during the commission of violent extortion, a key element in the federal charges now filed.

All four defendants—Elder, Ling, McCoy, and Abdel-Rahim—are charged with conspiracy to commit extortionate collection of credit and the substantive extortion count. Elder, Ling, and McCoy face additional counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence and causing death through firearm use. If convicted on the murder or firearm counts, each could spend the rest of their lives behind bars. Abdel-Rahim, who only participated in the intimidation phase, faces up to 20 years if convicted on the extortion charge.

Law enforcement officials pulled no punches in their statements. “No son should ever watch his father be killed,” said U.S. Attorney Richard P. Donoghue. “Elder exploited a business owner’s need for a loan and sent his enforcers to collect it—ending in a senseless, tragic murder.” FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney, Jr. added, “When criminals loan money, they don’t expect repayment—they expect fear. They use violence to control. In this case, the victim paid with his life. That ends now.”

Arrests unfolded over several days. Abdel-Rahim was taken into custody March 1, 2018, and released on secured bond. Ling was arrested the same day and ordered detained. Elder was captured in Cleveland, Ohio, on March 2, 2018, presented in court there on March 5, and is now en route to Brooklyn. McCoy was arrested just yesterday and was arraigned this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy. The charges remain allegations; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.