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Press Release

U.S. Attorney Announces Charges Against Two Defendants Relating To Armed Robbery In Ossining That Resulted In The Death Of A Co-Conspirator

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York

Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Kevin Sylvester, Chief of the Village of Ossining Police Department (“Ossining PD”), announced the unsealing yesterday of a four‑count indictment charging MATTHEW DUSABLON, a/k/a “Mateo,” a/k/a “Murk,” and JAHAIRA MEJIA with robbery and obstruction of justice.  The defendants were arrested yesterday and presented before United States Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy in White Plains federal court.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged in the Indictment, the defendants participated in a gunpoint robbery that resulted in the death of a co-conspirator and then worked to cover their tracks.  Thanks to the extraordinary and tenacious work of our partners at the FBI and the Ossining Police Department, the defendants are now facing federal charges for their alleged crimes.”

FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said: “As if the robbery at the center of this case wasn’t bad enough, the suspects allegedly decided to take it a step further and obstruct law enforcement’s ability to investigate it. They failed at both. Now, thanks to the outstanding work of the FBI Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force and our many partners, the suspects we arrested will serve as cautionary examples to others – trying to cover up your crimes only leads to more criminal charges.”

Ossining Police Chief Kevin Sylvester said: “Our community has waited patiently for resolution of this case and I’m relieved that we can now share the results of law enforcement professionals at the federal, state, and local levels all working seamlessly to restore our neighbors’ sense of peace and security.”

As alleged in the Indictment unsealed yesterday[1], and other publicly available documents:

On December 6, 2020, DUSABLON, MEJIA, and at least three other co-conspirators committed a gunpoint robbery in Ossining, New York, during which one of the co-conspirators brandished a firearm.  That same co-conspirator died from injuries sustained during the robbery victim’s flight from the scene of the robbery.

DUSABLON and MEJIA later concealed a jacket that another co-conspirator was wearing during the robbery and deleted information from their cell phones and social media accounts in order to obstruct the federal investigation of the December 6, 2020, robbery. DUSABLON also directed a co-conspirator to erase information from the co-conspirator’s cellphone and social media accounts in order to obstruct the federal investigation of the December 6, 2020, robbery.

*                      *                      *

DUSABLON, 27, and MEJIA, 35, both of the Bronx, are each charged with Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy and Hobbs Act robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1951 and 2 (Counts One and Two); a related firearms offense, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c) and 2 (Count Three); and obstruction of justice, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(2) (Count Four).  Counts One, Two, and Four each carry a maximum term of 20 years in prison.  Count Three carries a maximum term of life in prison and a mandatory minimum term of seven years in prison that must run consecutive to any other term of imprisonment imposed.  The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the OPD and the FBI’s Westchester Safe Streets Task Force, which comprises Special Agents and Task Force Officers from the FBI, U.S. Probation, New York State Police, New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the New York City Police Department, Westchester County Police Department, Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, and the Yonkers, Mount Vernon, White Plains, New Rochelle, Peekskill, Greenburgh, Clarkstown, and Ramapo Police Departments.

The case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Gianforti is in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

 

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Updated October 19, 2021

Topic
Violent Crime
Press Release Number: 21-287