Security Increased for LI Marathon, Massive Gang Takedown

In light of the recent tragic events that transpired at the Boston Marathon on Monday, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano began hosting security meetings with key Nassau County Police Officials, New York State Police, Office of Emergency Management, Department of Health, Parks and Recreation and Department of Public Works personnel in preparation for the county’s upcoming Long Island Marathon, which is being held May 3 through May 5.

Security assessments of the routes began immediately and protocols and safety measures have and will be implemented. Some of the measures will be announced in the near future, some will not for security reasons.

The group will meet again Wednesday to continue to discussions.

Click here to read more about the race and the security measures being taken.

Nassau Agencies Announce Largest Gang Takedown in County History

Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice joined with County Executive Mangano, NCPD Commissioner Tom Dale and FBI officials Thursday to announce the most significant gang bust in county history, arresting 14 members and four associates of the ultra-violent “Rollin’ 60s” for crimes including attempted murder, assault, robbery, gun sales and drug sales.

The arrests are the result of a months-long collaborative investigation between the agencies and include the arrest of the gang’s leader, Raphael “Gusto” Osborne, 27, of Roosevelt.

The Rollin’ 60s are a violent set of the Crips street gang and have been operating in Roosevelt since approximately 2001, Rice said. While many members of the gang have been arrested for various offenses, law enforcement efforts accelerated when gang member Michael Benitez shot a Hempstead Police Department officer in December 2011.

The collaborative investigation began when law enforcement learned from a witness that members of the Rollin’ 60s were selling guns out of the homes of Osborne and high-ranking gang member Derick Hernandez, Rice said.

Law enforcement learned that fellow gang member Aaron Halyard would make trips to southern states, purchase firearms, and bring them back to Nassau County to be sold illegally at a mark-up, Rice said. Gang member Timothy Fenner was also involved in the sales. Three sales of five guns were documented in May 2012.

A June 2012 sale to a witness was called off when Fenner and Osbourne saw police activity in the area, Rice said. In October 2012, Hernandez lured a person he believed to be a witness to illegal gun sales to a secluded area where Osbourne was waiting. Osbourne shot the victim multiple times, but the victim survived.

Osbourne and Hernandez are charged with Attempted Murder in the First Degree for this incident. Gary Mosley and Aaron Halyard have made attempts to lure the victim out of hiding, Rice said. Mosley is charged with Conspiracy in the Second Degree, while arrest warrants have been issued for Halyard and Fenner.

Rice said that Rollin’ 60s members were responsible for other shootings. On Aug. 30, 2012, Hernandez and Mosley spotted a man with whom they had a long-standing conflict. Hernandez pulled up next to the victim’s vehicle and Mosley shot him in the arm. When the victim abandoned his still-moving vehicle and ran, Hernandez exited his car and fired additional shots at him, striking a bystander’s backpack.

In a separate incident on Oct. 6, 2012, gang member Devon Johnson shot another individual outside of a party after an argument, Rice said. Other incidents include:

• A Jan. 2, 2013 incident where gang member Tyshawn Gitto was arrested in possession of a loaded handgun.
• A Jan. 6, 2013 incident where gang member Tyrell Edwards robbed a victim of their cell phone. He was arrested a short time later in possession of the phone.
• A Feb. 10, 2013 incident where gang members Hernandez, Kwame Lake, and Kurtis Phillip robbed a local business person at gunpoint.
• A March 2, 2013 incident where shots were fired in Roosevelt from a car believed to be connected to the gang. Detectives attempted to pull over a vehicle matching the description but a chase ensued. The driver, Rohmel Loban, attempted to flee but was arrested.
• An April 7, 2013 incident where gang members Wesley Reyes, Leshont Rodney-Saunders, and Jeffrey Lee, and gang associates Abdul Robinson and Brian Marshall, punched and kicked a male victim and stole his money. The five defendants were arrested a short time later.
• Multiple members being arrested for selling drugs, including Merlin Benitez, Daquanne Nunn, and Mosley.
• Search warrants executed at the homes of Osbourne and Hernandez yesterday uncovered felony-level amounts of heroin, powder and crack cocaine, and marijuana.