Shaun Taylor ‘S-Dot’ Gets Life for Bushwick Murders

Bushwick drug kingpin Shaun Taylor, 32, known on the streets as “S-Dot,” was sentenced today to ten life terms plus 50 years in federal prison for orchestrating two contract murders tied to his narcotics empire. The sentence caps a years-long investigation into a violent, decade-long heroin, cocaine, and crack distribution ring that terrorized parts of Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island.

Following a three-week trial, Taylor was convicted on September 8, 2014, on all counts, including murder for hire, drug-related murder, narcotics trafficking conspiracy, and multiple firearms offenses. The Eastern District of New York jury heard how Taylor maintained control over his operation through fear, recruiting young enforcers to carry out violent acts on his behalf — including two fatal shootings.

The first murder occurred on April 29, 2005, after another dealer stole Taylor’s drug operation cell phone. He paid Timothy Pinkney $1,500 to kill the thief. Instead, Taylor directed Pinkney to Terrance Barnett, an innocent man visiting Brooklyn for the weekend. Pinkney shot Barnett in the head and torso outside a school, killing him in a case of mistaken identity. Pinkney later pleaded guilty and is serving 23 years.

Two years later, in June 2007, Taylor and a co-conspirator stole five kilograms of cocaine from Joseph Vargas. Fearing retaliation, Taylor arranged a hit. On June 20, 2007, he drove two men to a car wash on DeKalb Avenue in Bushwick, pointed out Vargas, and handed over the murder weapon. One assailant opened fire, killing Vargas and critically injuring his brother, who survived.

“The defendant was responsible for two murders – one, another drug dealer, the other, an innocent bystander who tragically was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said United States Attorney Robert L. Capers. “Taylor will now spend the rest of his life behind bars for his depraved acts.” Capers credited the FBI and NYPD for their relentless pursuit of justice.

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney, Jr. added, “Shaun Taylor has shown a disregard for human life by paying others to do his dirty work for him.” The sentence was handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge Dora L. Irizarry. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Amatruda, David Pitluck, and Tali Farhadian. E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 10-CR-268.