Four Members and Associates of the Folk Nation Gangster Disciples Convicted of Gang-Related Shootings in Brooklyn

Earlier today, a federal jury in Brooklyn convicted Lorenzo Bailey, Quincy Battice, Jean Fremont, and Oluwagbenga Agoro on multiple counts of a superseding indictment charging them with conspiracy to murder rival gang members in-aid-of racketeering, attempted murder in-aid-of racketeering, attempted assault with a dangerous weapon in-aid-of racketeering, assault with a dangerous weapon in-aid-of racketeering and possessing, brandishing and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence in connection with multiple shootings in Brooklyn in November 2020.  Bailey, Battice, Fremont, and Agoro are all members or associates of the Flatbush-based Folk Nation Gangster Disciples, also known as “GD.”  Bailey and Fremont are also leaders of the No Love City (NLC) subset of GD, with Fremont serving on NLC’s five-member “Steering Committee,” and Bailey serving as the set’s “Chief of Security.”  Additionally, Agoro was convicted of threatening physical violence in connection with a plan to commit extortion.  The verdicts followed a five-week trial before United States District Judge William F. Kuntz, II.  When sentenced, the defendants each face a maximum of life in prison; Agoro and Fremont face mandatory minimum sentences of 20 years, and Bailey and Battice face mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years.  Four other participants in the shootings previously pleaded guilty.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the verdict.

“In senseless retaliation for the theft of a gold chain, our Brooklyn communities were terrorized by gangs on a violent gun rampage that left three victims wounded in four separate shootings over a two-day period,” states United States Attorney Peace. “The residents of this district deserve to walk the streets of our communities without fear of falling victim to gun violence.  Today’s verdict sends a resounding message that defendants who display a callous disregard for human life and safety will be met with the full force of the law and brought to justice.”

Mr. Peace thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office; Kings County District Attorney’s Office, and the New York City Police Department (NYPD) for their assistance in the case.

As proven at trial, the defendants participated in four shootings over a two-day period stemming from the snatching of a gold chain and pendant from Fremont by rival gang members following the filming of a music video in Brooklyn.  News of the theft spread online, along with photos of the stolen necklace.  In response to ridicule posted on social media about the theft, the defendants plotted retaliation against rival gang members. 

The November 2020 Shootings

As proven at trial, on November 7 and 9, 2020, Agoro, Bailey, Battice, Fremont and others carried out four separate drive-by shootings in Canarsie, Prospect Park South, and Brownsville, during which three victims were wounded.  In the first November 7 shooting, Agoro, Bailey, Battice, Fremont and others drove to Canarsie, where they shot at a group of individuals.  The defendants then drove back to one of the shooter’s residences, before setting out again for a second shooting in Canarsie, during which two individuals were wounded in their legs.  On November 9, 2020, Agoro and others drove to Prospect Park South, where they shot at a group of individuals but did not hit anyone.  Later that same day, Agoro, Fremont and others drove to Brownsville for another shooting, where one 18-year-old victim was shot in the shoulder and grazed in her back.

In March 2021, Agoro went to a bodega in Flatbush.  He and another individual then displayed a gun and threatened to kill the bodega clerk unless the clerk allowed the defendant and his friends to take merchandise from the store for free.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

The investigations that led to these prosecutions and convictions were conducted by the FBI/NYPD Safe Streets Task Force and NYPD Gun Violence Suppression Division.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section.  Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan Siegel, Dana Rehnquist, and Sophia Suarez are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of paralegal Celine Laruelle.

The Defendants:

LORENZO BAILEY (also known as “Renzo” and “St. Clair Bailey”)
Age:  33
Atlanta, Georgia

QUINCY BATTICE (also known as “Hush Dinero” and “George Ayala”)
Age:  33
Atlanta, Georgia

JEAN FREMONT (also known as “Juno” and “Bigga Twirl”)
Age:  31 
Brooklyn, New York

OLUWAGBENGA AGORO (also known as “Gee Banga”)
Age:  22
Brooklyn, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-293 (WFK)