Defendant Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for the Murder of a Poughkeepsie Man During a Violent Drug-Related Robbery in Brighton Beach

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Marcus Ricketts was sentenced by United States District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall to 25 years in prison for causing death through use of a firearm.  Ricketts pleaded guilty to the charge on April 4, 2024.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentence. 

“My Office continues to work tirelessly to dismantle violent robbery crews that wreak havoc on communities throughout New York City, such as the one the defendant led,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “Today’s sentencing reaffirms that brazen and incorrigible violence will be severely punished.  It also reconfirms our commitment to prosecuting defendants who are here illegally and commit violent acts to the fullest extent of the law.”

Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the New York Field Office of the FBI.

“For years, Marcus Ricketts led a violent robbery crew targeting victims across the city with firearms and threats of death, which was followed through on one occasion,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia.  “Despite a previous conviction and deportation, Ricketts continued to display little concern for the law with repeated attempts to unlawfully enrich himself and his cohorts.  May today’s sentencing reflect the FBI’s steadfast commitment to crush violent crime and deter chronic recidivists from entering this country illegally determined to wreak criminal havoc in our communities.

As set forth in the government’s sentencing memorandum, prior court filings, and statements during the sentencing, Ricketts led an armed robbery crew that targeted marijuana dealers throughout New York City.  In addition to Ricketts, the crew included co-defendants Mark Goulbourne, Jonathan Goulbourne, Juvanie Crossgill, Chevonne Williams, Amari Webber, and Romeo Jonas.

Between June 2020 and December 2021, after illegally returning to the United States following his deportation, Ricketts, a Jamaican citizen, perpetrated three armed robberies with the crew, one of which resulted in a shootout and a murder.  Each time, the crew posed as marijuana dealers, arranged to meet the marijuana sellers for a purported purchase, and then robbed the dealers at gunpoint.

In July 2020, Ricketts orchestrated the robbery of a victim selling marijuana from his store in the Bronx (Victim 1).  Victim 1 was held at gunpoint while Ricketts stole approximately 40 pounds of marijuana.

In October 2021, Ricketts orchestrated the robbery of a victim selling marijuana from his store in Staten Island (Victim 2).  Victim 2 and his younger brother were ordered to the floor at gunpoint and threatened with death.  The crew stole approximately 100 pounds of marijuana and Victim 2’s car.

In December 2021, Ricketts and others orchestrated the robbery of a victim from Poughkeepsie (Victim 3) and his friend (Victim 4) who were selling marijuana.  Ricketts and the crew met the victims at an Airbnb in Brighton Beach, posing as buyers for the approximately 165 pounds of marijuana brought into the Airbnb for the sale.  While Ricketts, Mark Goulbourne, and others were inside the Airbnb with Victim 3 and Victim 4, a shootout erupted, killing Victim 3 and wounding Victim 4.

Ricketts and Mark Goulbourne fled the Airbnb carrying guns, and Ricketts also carried a large duffle bag of marijuana.  On a nearby street, Ricketts stole a Citi Bike from a passerby, which he attempted unsuccessfully to transport the marijuana.  Ricketts was then picked up in Jonathan Goulbourne’s car, and they fled the scene.  In the hours that followed, at Ricketts’s instruction, Crossgill returned to the scene several times to locate evidence the crew had left behind.

Notably, this was not Ricketts’s first conviction for armed robbery.  In August 2014, Ricketts organized a violent robbery of an individual in the Bronx, for which he was convicted and sentenced in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.  On February 28, 2019, after serving his sentence, Ricketts was deported to Jamaica.  By June 2020, he had illegally returned to the United States and was again orchestrating violent robberies in New York City.

Previously, Webber and Jonas pled guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and conspiracy to commit the same and were sentenced to 108 months and 144 months’ imprisonment, respectively.  Jonathan Goulbourne pled guilty to obstruction of justice and was sentenced to 81 months’ imprisonment.  Crossgill and Williams both pled guilty and await sentencing.

Mark Goulbourne has pled not guilty and is scheduled to start trial on June 16, 2025.  The charges against Mark Goulbourne are merely allegations and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section.  Assistant United States  Attorneys Tara B. McGrath, Chand W. Edwards-Balfour, Rebecca M. Schuman, and Francisco J. Navarro are in charge of the prosecution.

The Defendant:

MARCUS RICKETTS
Age:  48
Jamaica

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-106 (LDH)