New York, NY – In a major blow to the city’s violent underworld, Latique Johnson, a/k/a “La Brim,” a/k/a “Straight 2 Business,” a/k/a “Breezy,” a/k/a “Boss Dog,” was found guilty of racketeering conspiracy, narcotics trafficking conspiracy, and firearms offenses in connection with his membership in the “Blood Hound Brims” (BHB), a violent street and prison gang that operated in New York City, upstate New York, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere.
Johnson, 35, was convicted along with co-defendants Brandon Green, a/k/a “Light,” a/k/a “Moneywell,” and Donnell Murray, a/k/a “Don P,” of racketeering conspiracy, narcotics trafficking conspiracy, and firearms offenses. Johnson and Murray were also found guilty of committing assault in aid of racketeering for a 2012 shooting at a fast food restaurant in the Bronx involving an AK-47 firearm.
Johnson was found guilty of attempted murder in aid of racketeering for ordering a 2012 shooting of rival gang members in the Bronx. The convictions followed a five-week trial before the Honorable Paul G. Gardephe.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said, “Latique Johnson, Brandon Green, and Donnell Murray were leaders of the Blood Hound Brims, a ruthless gang, and were responsible for extensive narcotics trafficking and terrible violence. They now stand convicted of their crimes, and will no longer be able to inflict harm on the people of this city.”
According to court documents and the evidence at trial, BHB was a criminal enterprise that operated principally in the greater New York area, from 2005 to 2016. BHB was a faction of the Bloods street gang, which operates nationwide, and is under the New York Blood Brim Army (“NYBBA”). The BHB operated within and around various locations in New York, including New York City, Westchester County, Elmira, and in Pennsylvania, as well as within and outside federal and state penal systems.
The BHB used a hierarchical structure that was organized, in part, by geography, including New York City, and that was maintained, in part, through the payment of dues. Johnson, the founder and leader of the Gang, was referred to as the “Godfather.” Other members and associates of the BHB referred to Johnson as the “Godfather.” The Gang was divided into several “pedigrees,” each of which had its own leadership structure which was approved by Johnson.
Members of the BHB had regular meetings, sometimes called “pow wows” or “9-11s,” at which members were required to pay dues. Some of the meetings were among members of a particular pedigree, and other meetings were for all members of the Enterprise. Word of the meetings was disseminated via text message, word-of-mouth, and flyers. The BHB’s business, including rivalries with other gangs, shootings, the arrest of gang members, guns, and drugs, was regularly discussed at these meetings.
Johnson, Green, and Murray all held leadership positions within the Gang at different times. One of the BHB’s principal objectives was to sell cocaine base, commonly known as “crack cocaine,” powder cocaine, and heroin, which members and associates of the BHB sold throughout the greater New York area and in Pennsylvania.
The BHB engaged in multiple acts of violence against rival gangs. These acts of violence included assaults and attempted murders, and were committed to protect the Gang’s drug territory, to retaliate against members of rival gangs who had encroached on the BHB’s territory, and to avenge perceived slights or disrespect from rival gangs.
The conviction of Johnson, Green, and Murray marks a significant victory for the people of New York City and the surrounding areas. The defendants will be sentenced at a later date. Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the convictions.
Latique Johnson, the defendant, was found guilty of the following crimes:
Racketeering conspiracy (18 U.S.C. § 1962(d))
Narcotics trafficking conspiracy (21 U.S.C. § 846)
Firearms offenses (18 U.S.C. § 924(c))
Assault in aid of racketeering (18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(3))
Attempted murder in aid of racketeering (18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(5))
City: New York, NY
State: New York
Year: 2023
Sentence: To be determined at a later date.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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