Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz and New York City Police Department Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch announced today that 32 reputed members of the Bad-Co Ballout gang have been indicted following a year-long investigation into multiple shootings and homicides in Southeast Queens dating back to 2021. It was the largest single gang takedown in the history of the DA’s office.

The defendants are variously charged in a 97-count indictment with murder, attempted murder, weapon possession, conspiracy and other crimes. Six defendants are charged with conspiracy in the first degree and face up to life in prison. The gang is allegedly responsible for carrying out at least 13 shootings – including three homicides — often in broad daylight, near parks, public schools and residential areas. The gang was based in Queens Village, which was referred to by members as “Shadyville,”

District Attorney Katz said: “As alleged, the members of Bad-Co have operated as a ruthless gang in Queens for the past four years and are now considered the most violent in the borough. They terrorized rivals, and harmed innocent bystanders, to maintain and expand their geographic dominance. Tragically, three people were murdered due to this gang’s indiscriminate violence. We will not relent in our work to dismantle gangs in this borough. Seventeen firearms were seized during this investigation, and I commend the prosecutors in my Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau and our NYPD partners for their work to suppress gun and gang violence in our borough.”

Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said: “For years, the members of these rival gangs terrorized communities in Queens, turning neighborhoods into their own deadly playgrounds and then bragging about it on social media. They wanted credit for the shootings they carried out, and today, we’re happy to give it to them. Using targeted enforcement and precision policing, the NYPD investigators did the dangerous work needed to stop this violence. Thanks to them, Queens is significantly safer today.”

Eighteen of the defendants were arraigned yesterday before Queens Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Holder and five were arraigned before Queens Supreme Court Justice Bruna DiBiase. (See addendum.)

Six defendants are in custody on other matters and will be arraigned at a later date. Three remain at large.

District Attorney Katz said that, according to the indictment and investigation, the defendants are all alleged members or associates of the Bad-Co gang and are affiliated with either the 55 Neighborhood Crips or the Self-Made Mak Ballas gangs. As alleged, the objective of the Bad-Co members was to kill their rivals and establish geographic dominance.

The Bad-Co gang is led by Jahvon Attapoku, who goes by the street name of “Shady.” The defendant stored and distributed loaded and operable firearms at his Queens Village home and allegedly gave permission to gang members to shoot rivals.

Since 2021, the members of Bad-Co have been in an ongoing territorial dispute with rivals in the Top Opp Mak Ballas, 5^th Clocc and Blitz Gang 4.

The following incidents were charged as part of the alleged conspiracy:

• November 5, 2021. Defendant Sean “Broad Day” Chang fired multiple shots at a rival near 205^th Street and Linden Boulevard in St Albans.
• March 25, 2022. Chang and three other defendants left Attapoku’s home with two loaded firearms with the intent to find and kill a rival gang member. At approximately 3:04 p.m. that day, Chang fired a .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol, hitting a 16-year-old in the rear of Cardozo High School in Bayside.
• June 7, 2022. Attapoku and defendants Mekhi “Scarfaxe” Hooi and Elijah “Eli” Lawrence fired 23 rounds near a home on 113rd Road in St. Albans in an attempt to murder a rival. One bullet entered the home and struck a 15-year-old girl in the leg.
• November 10, 2022. Attapoku and four other defendants robbed rival 18-year-old Mark Greene of his gun outside Greene’s high school in Kew Gardens Hills. While standing with Attapoku, Jeff “Havoc” Joseph took out a loaded gun and fired multiple times at Greene, killing him. The shooting happened at approximately 3 p.m.
• January 20, 2023. A then 14-year-old attempted to kill a man by firing a semi-automatic gun at him. The shooting took place outside of the New Dawn Charter School and Early Bird II Educational Center in Jamaica at approximately 3:50 p.m.
• May 29, 2023. Joseph fired multiple shots in the vicinity of Wayanda Park in Queens Village.
• April 29, 2024. Emeka “BT” Onondu and Shayne “Gotti Sleeze” Shepphard each fired multiple shots into a home on 120^th Avenue in St. Albans attempting to kill a rival.
• May 14, 2024. Two defendants stole a car from Nassau County and drove it to Queens to give it to three other defendants to use in a shooting. Defendants Onondu and Leon “Glo” Gardner were then driven by Joseph “Slim” Rodrigues to Coombs Street in Springfield Gardens where they fired at a rival, attempting to kill him.
• May 20, 2024. Onondu and a then 16-year-old defendant each fired guns at approximately 3 p.m. through and outside of a McDonald’s restaurant on Linden Boulevard in Cambria Heights in order to kill a rival.
• September 16, 2024. A then 15-year-old defendant was engaged in a fight with a rival gang member and fired at him multiple times across a St. Albans intersection. William Alcindor, a 66-year-old motorist, was caught in the gun fire as he drove on Baisley Boulevard. Alcindor lost control of his car and hit a woman on the sidewalk, seriously injuring her. The 66-year-old was pronounced deceased shortly after the incident.
• October 13, 2024. Jsean “Jay Recc” Philogene fired at a rival gang member on Monterrey Street near Wayanda Park in Queens Village, attempting to kill him.
• January 27, 2025. A 17-year-old defendant shot and killed Ikechukwu Onondu in the vestibule of a building on 86^th drive in Queens Village.
• September 5, 2025. A 16-year-old defendant fired at rival gang members, attempting to kill them, in the back of a commercial building on 188^th Street in Fresh Meadows.

The joint investigation was conducted by the Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau of the Queens District Attorney’s Office, along with Detectives Christopher Sanabria and John Frank of the NYPD’s Gun Violence Suppression Division  under the supervision of Lieutenant Jonathan Zocchia and Deputy Inspector Craig Edelman, Commanding Officer; Detective Devin Baker of the 116^th Precinct FIO; Detectives James Zozzaro, Alexandros Kalogiros, and Michael Gaine of the Homicide Squad; Detectives Abigail Soto and Ramon Portillo of the 107^th Squad; and Detective Joseph Paige of the 113th Squad; Detective Demetri Bryant of the 105^th Squad; and members of the 103^rd, 105^th, 107^th, 111^th, and 113^th Detective Squads, all under the overall supervision of Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny.

Assistant District Attorneys Charles Dunn of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Brewer under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Jonathan Sennett, Bureau Chief, and Barry Frankenstein and Philip Anderson, Deputy Bureau Chiefs, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Gerard A. Brave.

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ADDENDUM

JAHVON “SHADY” ATTAPOKU, 21, of Queens Village, was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the first, second and fourth degrees, attempted murder in the second degree, attempted assault in the first degree, assault in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, reckless endangerment in the first degree, murder in the second degree and robbery in the first degree Attapoku is due back in court November 25.

ALLEN AYBAR, 18, of Fresh Meadows, was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the second and fourth degrees, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and criminal facilitation in the second degree. Abyar is due back in court December 18.

SEAN “BROAD DAY” CHANG, 20, of Cambria Heights, was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the second and fourth degrees. Chang is due back in court December 18.

ANTHONY “ANT” CRAWFORD, 19, of Manhattan, was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the second and fourth degrees, criminal facilitation in the second degree and attempted criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. Crawford is due back in court December 17.

JASIAH “SIAH” DEFRITAS, 19, of Queens Village, was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the second and fourth degrees, attempted robbery in the first and second degrees, assault in the second degree, criminal facilitation in the second degree and grand larceny. He has not been apprehended.

LEON “GLO” GARDNER, 18, of Jamaica, was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the second and fourth degrees, attempted murder in the second degree, attempted assault in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and reckless endangerment in the first degree. Gardner is due back in court December 12.

MEKHI “SCARFAXE” HOOI, 21, of South Jamaica, was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the first, second and fourth degrees, attempted murder in the second degree, attempted assault in the first degree, assault in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and reckless endangerment in the first degree. Hooi is in custody on another matter and will be arraigned at a later date.

17-YEAR-OLD DEFENDANT, of Queens Village, was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the second and fourth degrees, attempted murder in the second degree, attempted assault in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and reckless endangerment in the first degree. He is due back in court December 18.

17-YEAR-OLD DEFENDANT, of Queens Village, was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the second and fourth degrees, burglary in the second degree and attempted criminal possession of a weapon in the second and third degrees. He is due back in court December 18.

 JEFF “HAVOC” JOSEPH, 21, of Bellerose Manor, was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the first, second and fourth degrees, murder in the second degree, robbery in the first degree, attempted murder in the second degree, attempted assault in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and reckless endangerment in the first degree. Joseph is due back in court January 16, 2026.

ELIJAH “ELI” LAWRENCE, 20, of Cambria Heights, was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the second and fourth degrees, attempted murder in the second degree, attempted assault in the first degree, assault in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and reckless endangerment in the first degree. Lawrence is due back in court December 17.

CADEN “KG” McCLOUD, 18, of Queens Village, was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the second and fourth degrees, attempted murder in the second degree, attempted assault in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and reckless endangerment in the first degree. McCloud is due back in court December 18.

17-YEAR-OLD DEFENDANT, of Queens Village, was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the second and fourth degrees, attempted murder in the second degree, attempted assault in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and reckless endangerment in the first degree. He is in custody on another matter and will be arraigned at a later date.

JEREMIAH “MJ” MICHEL, 19, of Queens Village, was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the second degree and fourth degrees and hindering prosecution in the second degree. The defendant has not been apprehended.

SETH “SG” MIGNON, 18, of Queens Village, was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the second and fourth degrees, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and hindering prosecution in the first degree. Mignon is due back in court January 12, 2026.

EMEKA “BT” ONONDU, 19, of Queens Village,  was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the second and fourth degrees, murder in the second degree, robbery in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, attempted murder in the second degree, attempted assault in the first degree, reckless endangerment in the first degree, attempted robbery in the first and second degrees and assault in the second degree. He is in custody on another matter and will be arraigned at a later date.

17-YEAR-OLD DEFENDANT, of Queens Village, was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the second and fourth degrees, murder in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. He is in custody on another matter and will be arraigned at a later date.

JSEAN “JAY RECC” PHILOGENE, 24, of Elmont, was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the first, second and fourth degrees, attempted murder in the second degree, attempted assault in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and reckless endangerment in the first degree. Philogene is due back in court January 12, 2026.

JAEBETS “SPEEDY” PIERRE, 21, of Fresh Meadows, was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the first, second and fourth degrees, murder in the second degree, robbery in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. Pierre is due back in court January 16, 2026.

NEOMIAH “A-DOT” POWELL, 18, of Hempstead, was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the second and fourth degrees, attempted murder in the second degree, attempted assault in the first degree and assault in the second degree. Powell is due back in court January 12, 2026.

MICHEL “SMOCCEY” RALY, 21, of Queens Village, was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the first, second and fourth degrees, murder in the second degree, robbery in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. Raly is due back in court January 20, 2026.

JOSEPH “SLIM” RODRIGUES, 20, of Bellerose Manor, was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the second and fourth degrees. Rodrigues is due back in court January 9, 2026.

17-YEAR-OLD DEFENDANT, of Glen Oaks, was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the second and fourth degrees, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and criminal facilitation in the second degree. He is due back in court December 17.

NASIR “NAS” SCRUGGS, 19, of Baldwin, was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the second and fourth degrees, attempted murder in the second degree, attempted assault in the first degree, assault in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. He has not been apprehended.

SHAYNE “GOTTI SLEEZE” SHEPPARD, 18, of Queens Village, was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the second and fourth degrees, attempted murder in the second degree, attempted assault in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, reckless endangerment in the first degree, burglary in the second degree and attempted criminal possession of a weapon in the second and third degrees. Sheppard is due back in court December 17.

JUJHARBEER “JUGGZ” SINGH, 18, of Queens Village, was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the second and fourth degrees, attempted murder in the second degree, attempted assault in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, reckless endangerment in the first degree and burglary in the second degree. Singh is due back in court December 18.

16-YEAR-OLD DEFENDANT, of Richmond Hill, was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the second and fourth degrees and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. He is in custody on another matter and will be arraigned at a later date.

LORENZO “ENZO” STEPHENS, 18, of Hollis, was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the second and fourth degrees, attempted murder in the second degree, attempted assault in the first degree and assault in the second degree. Stephens is due back in court December 18.

16-YEAR-OLD DEFENDANT, of Queens Village, was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the second and fourth degrees, attempted murder in the second degree, attempted assault in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and reckless endangerment in the first degree. He is in custody on another matter and will be arraigned at a later date.

15-YEAR-OLD DEFENDANT, of Jamaica, was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the second and fourth degrees, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, burglary in the second degree and attempted criminal possession of a weapon in the second and third degrees. He is due back in court December 3.

ANTHONY “A5” URGITANO, 18, of Richmond Hill, was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the second and fourth degrees. Urgitano is due back in court on December 17.

16-YEAR-OLD DEFENDANT, of Queens Village, was indicted on charges of conspiracy in the second and fourth degrees, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, burglary in the second degree, attempted criminal possession of a weapon in the second and third degrees and criminal facilitation in the second degree. He is due back in court December 17.