BROOKLYN, NY – Justice came down hard today for three members of the notorious Brooklyn-based Real Ryte gang. Dajahn McBean, 28, the gang’s leader, was sentenced to 150 months in federal prison. Mark Waiters, 26, and Semaj Smith, 30, also known as “Bam Bam” and “Real Ryte Sport,” received sentences of 149 months and 132 months respectively, all for their roles in a violent racketeering conspiracy fueled by a brutal gang war.
The sentences, handed down by United States District Judge Hector Gonzalez, stem from a long-running feud with the Breadgang crew, a subset of the Bloods. Federal prosecutors detailed how Real Ryte engaged in a pattern of violent crime – including murder, assault, bank fraud, and wire fraud – to maintain its power and enrich its members between 2015 and 2018. The case, brought by the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Breon Peace, and the FBI’s New York Field Office, paints a picture of unchecked brutality on Brooklyn streets.
The gang war escalated after the murder of Real Ryte member Sean Peart, for which a Breadgang member, Marvin Pippins, was already convicted. The indictment revealed a chilling plot hatched by McBean, Waiters, and Smith to retaliate against Pippins and other Breadgang members. On January 3, 2017, they received intelligence on a Breadgang member’s location in lower Manhattan. The trio, acting on McBean’s orders, embarked on a high-speed chase through Manhattan streets, intending to carry out a targeted assassination.
But the hit went horribly wrong. During the reckless pursuit, traveling against traffic, the defendants mistakenly opened fire on an innocent bystander, seriously injuring the victim before fleeing the scene. This botched attempt to murder a rival gang member, and the endangerment of innocent civilians, was a key factor in the severity of the sentencing. “The defendants have dedicated themselves to committing violent crimes on behalf of their gang without any regard for endangering the public,” stated U.S. Attorney Peace. “We will not tolerate our communities being turned into scenes out of video games with gang warfare.”
All three defendants pleaded guilty in September and October 2023 to charges in a superseding indictment. The government’s case was handled by the Organized Crime and Gangs Section, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joy Lurinsky and Rebecca Schuman leading the prosecution. The investigation also received crucial support from the New York City Police Department and Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations New York.
This sentencing sends a clear message: those who embrace gang violence and terrorize communities will face significant consequences. The streets of Brooklyn are a little safer today, but the Grimy Times will continue to track the fallout from this case and the ongoing battle against organized crime in the city. (E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-260 (S-1) (HG))
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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