Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty to Drive-By Shooting

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Steven Bynum pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Ann M. Donnelly to firing a handgun into a group of people in furtherance of a drug distribution dispute, wounding a pregnant innocent bystander.  When sentenced, Bynum faces up to life in prison.

Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, John B. DeVito, Special Agent-in-Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New York Field Division (ATF), and Dermot F. Shea, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the guilty plea.

According to court filings and facts presented during court proceedings, in early 2017, Bynum and his co-conspirators stole drugs from another drug dealer (“John Doe”) and then distributed those drugs at the Kingsborough Houses in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.  In June 2017, “John Doe” retaliated by assaulting and pistol-whipping Bynum.  On September 10, 2017, Bynum drove to Dean Street in East New York, where he spotted “John Doe” standing with a group of people.  Bynum fired multiple shots at the group, but missed “John Doe” and instead hit a five-month pregnant bystander twice in the head.  The victim still suffers from partial paralysis and permanent cognitive damage from the bullet wounds.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. 

The government’s case is being is handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section.  Assistant United States Attorneys Francisco J. Navarro and Temidayo Aganga-Williams are in charge of the prosecution.

The Defendant:

STEVEN BYNUM (also known as “Nitty”)
Age:  38
Brooklyn, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 19-CR-0255 (AMD)