Killer Sentenced For Slaying in Alleged East Flatbush Gambling Den

Euzebelin Abellard, 35, of Crown Heights, was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison today for the 2015 murder of a man inside an alleged East Flatbush gambling den, District General Eric Gonzalez announced today.

Abellard was arrested in February 2016, after three months on the run, when police spotted him spitting on the platform of a Coney Island subway. When cops moved to issue a $50 quality of life ticket, they recognized him for the wanted murderer he was and took him into custody. He was found guilty of second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon in a jury trial.

Back in November of 2015, Abellard had entered a basement on New York Avenue in East Flatbush, following behind a regular customer of the alleged gambling den. According to trial testimony, when 51-year-old Jean Claude Bernagene, an employee of the establishment, stepped in to stop Abellard from entering, Abellard threatened to shoot Bernagene.

That’s exactly what he did. After being shot in the stomach and hand, Bernagene managed to chase Abellard up the stairs and into the street. Abellard fled and Bernagene was taken to Kings County Hospital, where he died two days later, after complications with his wound arose.

“This defendant’s lawless behavior cost a man his life and inflicted great emotional pain on the victim’s family. He has now been held accountable for his crimes,” said District Attorney Gonzalez.