‘American Girl’ Hoodstarz Gang Indicted; Crimes In Boerum Hill And Prospect Heights Nabes

Thirty-five alleged members of the Hoodstarz gang and its affiliate crews in Brownsville were arrested in connection to financial crimes, burglaries, weapons and drugs that boiled over into Prospect Heights and Boerum Hill, announced Acting Brooklyn Distract Attorney Eric Gonzalez and Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill.

The indicted individuals have been accused of cocaine sales, home invasion, and illegally purchasing American Girl dolls.

Though most of the violence tied to the street crews occurred in Brownsville, multiple crimes carried into nearby neighborhoods, including Boerum Hill and Prospect Heights.

Police say that on August 10, 2015 three suspects entered the Upper 90 Soccer store on 359 Atlantic Ave (between Hoyt and Bond Streets) grabbed $4,000 worth of merchandise and stormed out. The suspects, identified as Khalil Chase, Sherif Randolph, and Shavelle Mills, were indicted for grand larceny.

On January 26, 2016, Jayquan Wimms, Shaquille Armstrong, Jhalanie Jones, Kamal Chase, and Sebastian Maione allegedly forced their way into an apartment on St. Marks Avenue in Prospect Heights robbing a couple at gunpoint. The male victim, who Maione reportedly knew, was pistol whipped before the defendants left with cash, cell phones, computers, and a Play Station 4 that was later sold.

Both crimes were uncovered during the long-term investigation, that began in 2015, which relied on electronic surveillance and exposed a multitude of criminal activities, from violent street crime to sophisticated credit card fraud.

“It is no longer enough to target the perpetrators of violent acts; public safety also requires us to pursue the criminals whose fraudulent financial schemes support violent gangs and their members,” said Gonzalez in a statement. “Our strategic approach will continue until we have incapacitated the drivers of violence in our communities and financial schemers who make everyone a victim.”

The 35 defendants, who were arraigned last week and on Monday, December 12, have been variously charged in 15 indictments with narcotics distribution, weapons possession, burglaries, forgery and identity theft

Among those arraigned over the last several days was Tyrone (Ty) Sexton, who allegedly purchased up to $800 from the American Girl doll company with stolen credit card information last December and in January 2016.

“For those from Brownsville, this is the end of Hoodstarz’s violence, identity theft, bogus rental cars, and drug dealing that permeated the streets,” said Commissioner O’Neill.