Six Members, One Associate of the Bailey Boys Gang Indicted for Racketeering, Narcotics Trafficking, and Murder

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury in Buffalo has returned a 24-count superseding indictment charging members of the Bailey Boys Gang with violent crimes in aid of racketeering, narcotics trafficking, and firearm offenses.

Charged in the Indictment are: Kenneth Pettway, Jr., 28; Demetrius Black, 36; Tyrone Brown, 20; Tyriq Brown, 20; Quinton Thompson, 23; Eddie Allen, 22; and Montell Jones, 23, all of Buffalo, New York.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony M. Bruce and Assistant Erie County District Attorney Paul Parisi, who is working as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, defendants Pettway, Tyrone Brown, Tyriq Brown, Allen, Thompson, and Jones committed a number of violent acts while members of the “Bailey Boys,” a criminal gang that operated in the city of Buffalo in an area bounded by Winspear Avenue, the Kensington Expressway, Eggert Road, and Main Street. Demetrius Black is an associate of the “Bailey Boys.” According to the indictment, the gang, which was also known as “Bailey and Minnesota” and “Six Deuce,” essentially controlled criminal activity in the gang’s territory, committing murders, attempted murders, drive-by shootings; distributing narcotics; and committing robberies.

The indictment specifically alleges:

• defendant Tyrone Brown murdered Harold McCain on January 19, 2011;
• defendant Tyrone Brown murdered Kevin Wilkins on June 14, 2011;
• defendants Tyrone Brown and Tyriq Brown attempted to murder Victim 1 on June 28, 2011;
• defendant Eddie Allen attempted to murder three victims on July 9, 2011;
• defendant Tyriq Brown attempted to murder Victim 5 on July 23, 2011;
• defendants Tyrone Brown and Eddie Allen robbed and attempted to murder Victim 6 on November 19, 2011;
• defendants Demetrius Black, Kenneth Pettway, and Tyrone Brown distributed over 280 grams of crack cocaine between 2010 and 2011.

Demetrius Black was charged, along with Kennethy Pettway and Tyrone Brown, with conspiring to distribute over 280 grams of crack cocaine between 2010 and 2011 and with related firearms charges and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life on the narcotics conspiracy charge and a mandatory consecutive sentence of five and 25 years on the firearms charges.

Tyriq Brown, who is charged with RICO and RICO conspiracy, is also charged, along with his brother Tyrone Brown, with attempted murder and related firearms charges and faces up to 105 years in prison.

Defendant Quinton Thompson is charged with attempted murder and a related firearms charge and faces up to 30 years in prison.

Defendant Eddie Allen is charged with RICO, RICO conspiracy, robbery, attempted murder, and related firearms charges and faces up to 105 years in prison.

Defendant Montell Jones is charged with attempted murder and related firearms charges and faces up to 25 years in prison.

Five of the seven defendants made an initial appearance late this morning before Magistriate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy. Defendants Pettway, Black, Tyrone Brown, Tyriq Brown, and Montell Jones were remanded pending detention hearings. Quinton Thompson and Eddie Allen are currently in jail serving state sentences and will appear Before Judge McCarthy on August 9, 2012 at 11:00 a.m.

“For too many years, members of the Bailey Boys and their associates have been filling the streets of the city of Buffalo with illegal narcotics, violence, and fear,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “Our office, along with all of our law enforcement partners, are committed to prosecuting not just members of the Bailey Boys, but, in fact, all violent and narcotics trafficking gangs. This investigation continues, and this case should send a message to the public that we have no intention of stopping.”

“Today’s arrests of members of the Bailey Boys Gang represent a combined law enforcement action to identify and interdict gang activity in the Buffalo area,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher M. Piehota. “These arrests are the direct result of the local community’s dialogue with law enforcement. The gang members removed from the streets today are charged with committing acts of violence, to include armed robberies and homicides, in their efforts to terrorize and control their self-proclaimed Bailey Avenue neighborhood territory. We expect today’s arrests to reduce violence and improve the quality of life for people who live, work, and patronize businesses on Buffalo’s East Side. Current and future efforts by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force and its partners will continue to disrupt and dismantle gang enterprises through teamwork, communication, and intelligence-driven investigations.”

The superseding indictment is the result of an ongoing investigation on the part of the United States Attorney’s Office in close cooperation with the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III; the Homicide Bureau of the Buffalo Police Department, under the command of Captain Michael McCarthy and Police Commissioner Daniel Derenda; the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, under the Direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher M. Piehota; and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy B. Howard.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.