Poughkeepsie Street Gang Member Sentenced To 25 Years In Prison For 2012 Murder

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that DIMETRI MOSELEY was sentenced today to 25 years in prison for his participation in the activities of a Poughkeepsie street gang, including the 2012 murder of Caval Haylett and the distribution of heroin.  MOSELEY had previously pled guilty to participation in racketeering and narcotics distribution conspiracies and had admitted that he was one of two shooters involved in Haylett’s murder.  U.S. District Judge Nelson S. Román, imposed today’s sentence.

MOSELEY was one of 31 members and associates of two rival street gangs who were charged in two separate cases – United States v. Ronald Johnson et al., 17 Cr. 505 (VB) and United States v. Douglas Owen et al., 17 Cr. 506 (NSR) – with racketeering conspiracy, narcotics conspiracy, and firearms offenses.  All 31 of those defendants, who were members and associates of two gangs referred to as “Uptown,” and “Downtown,” have now pled guilty to federal charges and been sentenced.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “This case demonstrates our commitment to dismantling violent gangs who threaten our New York neighborhoods through drug trafficking and the guns and physical violence that often accompanies it.  I applaud the extensive effort of our law enforcements partners to rid our streets of these dangers and bring these defendants to justice.”

According to the allegations in the charging documents and statements made in court filings and during court proceedings:

The FBI’s Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force, the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department, and the Dutchess County Special Narcotics Unit conducted a joint investigation into the gang war between Uptown and Downtown, which led to multiple fatal and non-fatal shootings between 2012 and 2017 in the City of Poughkeepsie.

Uptown is a criminal organization whose members referred to themselves by, and were known by, several different names.  Those names include the “Spready Gang,” the “400 Savages,” the “Boogotti Boys,” the “Young Bosses” or “YB’s,” and the “Mob Stars.”  Uptown gang members referred to themselves by different combinations of these names, all of which referred to the same criminal enterprise: the Uptown street gang.  Uptown is based within the eastern portion of Poughkeepsie, from east of Hamilton Street to the city line and, more specifically, within the Hudson Gardens housing development (commonly referred to as the “Bricks”).  Uptown gang members and associates control the narcotics trade within the Bricks, distributing heroin, crack cocaine, and marijuana, primarily.  Uptown gang members stored shared guns in various locations known to gang members to protect the narcotics business, to protect each other from rival gangs, and to strike against rival gangs.  The case of United States v. Douglas Owens et al. charged 13 members and associates of Uptown, including its leaders: DOUGLAS OWENS, a/k/a “Born Truth,” and JIHAD WILLIAMS, a/k/a “Goodie.”

Downtown, like Uptown, is the name of a large-scale criminal organization that went by many different names.  Those names include the “420 Boys,” “L-Block,” “Most Hated,” “Mobile Mafia,” “Hamo Gang,” the “Young Gunnas,” or “YG’s,” the “C-Eazy Gang,” and the “Bully Hard Hunna” faction of the Bloods street gang.  Despite the existence of several different names, each one referred to the same criminal enterprise: the Downtown street gang.  Downtown’s base of operations was located in the western portion of Poughkeepsie, from west of Hamilton Street to the Hudson River and, particularly, within the Martin Luther King and Rip Van Winkle housing developments (commonly referred to as the “Ville” and “Rip,” respectively).  Downtown gang members and associates controlled the narcotics trade within the Ville, Rip, and the surrounding area, also distributing resale amounts of heroin, crack cocaine, and marijuana, primarily.  Downtown gang members also stored their shared firearms in different locations known to members and associates.  This allowed Downtown gang members to arm themselves quickly when confronted by rivals and to protect each other and their narcotics business.  The case of United States v. Ronald Johnson et al. charged 18 members and associates of Downtown, including its leaders: RONALD JOHNSON, a/k/a “Top Gun,” and CARLOS OCASIO, a/k/a “Leak,” a/k/a “Pimp.”

In addition to countless non-fatal acts of violence against rival gang members and innocent victims, the rivalry between Uptown and Downtown has led to the following murders, among others:

• The murder of Downtown gang member Daquell LeBlanc, a/k/a “Hamo,” who was killed by a single gunshot wound to the chest at the age of 16 in the vicinity of Main Street, between Academy and North Hamilton Streets on or about December 23, 2012; and
• The murder of Caval Haylett, an innocent bystander and local high school basketball star, who was killed by a single gunshot wound to the head at the age of 18 while attending a barbeque in the vicinity of Winnikee Avenue and Harrison Street on or about March 9, 2016.  

*                *                *

All 31 of the charged defendants have pled guilty and been sentenced, as set forth below.  Charts identifying each defendant, the charges of conviction, and the sentences imposed are below.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the FBI’s Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force, the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department, the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, the Dutchess County Drug Task Force, and the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office.

This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Clore, Maurene Comey, and Emily Deininger are in charge of the prosecution.

United States v. Douglas Owens et al., 17 Cr. 406 (NSR)

United States v. Ronald Johnson et al., 17 Cr. 505 (VB)

*Sentence included a downward adjustment to account for a prison term served, or being served, on related state charges.