Photo by Síle Moloney
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced Friday, Nov. 21, that four men and a 16-year-old boy were indicted on first-degree robbery, conspiracy, grand larceny and other related charges for seven gunpoint robberies that took place in the Kingsbridge, Fordham Heights and Mott Haven sections of The Bronx, among others, that netted them nearly $100,000 in jewelry. The other locations included parts of Northern Manhattan but are being handled separately by the Office of the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
“The defendants, including a 16-year-old boy, allegedly put guns to victims’ heads or chests and stole their jewelry in a spree that lasted two weeks,” Clark said during a Friday press conference. “They accosted people of various ages, in different areas of The Bronx, including causing fear on our streets. We are fortunate that no one was shot, but these victims’ lives were threatened, and some are forever traumatized. No one should have to live that way. My crime victims advocates stand ready to assist them.”
Photo by Síle Moloney
Flier courtesy of the Bronx District Attorney’s office
The district attorney said the 16-year-old was arraigned on the robbery pattern indictment on Nov. 20, before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Gayle Roberts and bail was set at $100,000 cash, $500,000 bond and $500,000 partially secured bond at 10%. She said Carbuccia was arraigned on Nov. 20, before Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas and was remanded in custody. She said Perez and Rivas are awaiting arraignment.
According to the investigation handled by the Bronx DA’s Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureau, Bronx Robbery Squad, Manhattan Robbery Squad, officers of the 41st, 46th, and 52nd Precincts, Manhattan North Homicide and Shooting Enhancement Team, and the FBI/NYPD Westchester Safe Streets Taskforce, the defendants, who are alleged members of the Trinitarios set BB7, allegedly committed seven armed robberies between Sept. 20 and Oct. 6, in The Bronx.
Flier courtesy of the Bronx District Attorney’s office
They allegedly wore masks and accosted victims who were wearing gold chains or expensive watches and rings, pointed multiple guns at them or held the firearms against them, and forcibly removed the jewelry. They joined up at two Bronx motels before the robberies and then afterwards, to inspect the proceeds.
The victims included an elderly man on a stoop in Kingsbridge who was so fearful, he moved out of the area within two weeks of the incident; a business owner in Mott Haven who the group cut off with a moped; a man standing outside a nightclub in Fordham Heights, and people in vehicles who the group would drive up to and block in with their getaway car.
Flier courtesy of the Bronx District Attorney’s office
A video of various videos of the robberies screened at the press conference can be viewed here. Clark said there were no fatalities or non-fatal shooting injuries incurred during the robberies though victims were hurt in other ways or intimidated.
Norwood News asked the DA about a specific measure that had been announced by New York City Mayor Eric Adams post-pandemic that required customers to unmask before entering jewelry and other stores amid a slew of jewelry store robberies around that time. Clark said she believed there was some discussion around reversing the rule/law later but said she would need to check. We also reached out to the mayor’s office for comment and will share any updates we receive.
Flier courtesy of the Bronx District Attorney’s office
Separately, the DA also reminded the media of another Bronx gun buyback event taking place, as reported, on Saturday, Nov. 22. (Fliers also attached.) Norwood News asked if the guns, like in previous cases could be transported to the buyback event in a car trunk and she confirmed that they could and also added that if those transporting the guns to the event have the flier with them, that will also assist with any police interactions / car stops.
The robbery spree case is being prosecuted by Keturah R. Ladd, deputy chief, and Assistant District Attorney Sasha Abbott, of the DA’s Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureau, under the supervision of L. Newton Mendys, chief of the Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureau, and under the overall supervision of Denise Kodjo, deputy chief of the Investigations Division and Wanda Perez-Maldonaldo, chief of the Investigations Division.
Photo by Síle Moloney
Clark thanked Stephen Russo, supervisor in the Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureau, Tere Gilliard of the Bronx DA’s video unit, Intelligence Analyst Jonathan Mulhern of the Crime Strategies Bureau, and Trial Preparation Assistants Karina Johnson and Victor Ortiz of the Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureau for their assistance with the case.
She also thanked NYPD Detectives Giselle Batista and Eric Capowski, and Lieutenant Carlos Felipe of Bronx Robbery Squad, Police Officers Michael Rubeis of the 41st Precinct, Brandon Scott and Jorge Flores of the 46th Precinct, Joseph Giacoio of the 52nd Precinct, and Russell Crawford of Manhattan Robbery Squad; Detective Alex Tegan of Bronx Transit, Detective Paul Pastorini of Manhattan North Homicide and Shooting Enhancement Team, and Detectives Jesus Capo and Joseph Spina and Sergeant Christopher McGrisken of the FBI/NYPD Westchester Safe Streets Taskforce for their work on the investigation.
The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.
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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.