Latest news with #RayTierney
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Yahoo
Long Island DA reveals 3 twisted ‘rules' that made MS-13 a plague in the suburbs — ‘biggest, baddest, most violent gang'
Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said Long Island couldn't have taken on MS-13 without a little help from the feds — as he revealed the migrant gang's three twisted rules that made them the most dangerous in the Empire State. Tierney said during an exclusive sit-down with The Post that migrant crews like the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua wreak havoc in the New York metropolitan area, but MS-13 poses a greater threat because prestige among the ranks is gained solely through violence and murder. 'That's the purpose of MS-13, to be the biggest, baddest, most violent gang in the world,' he said. 'They considered murder part and parcel of what they did. And that's how you gained prestige and respect and moved up in the gang, by committing outrageous acts of violence, including murder. 'In the ethos of the gang the best way to accomplish that would be with your hands, a club machete,' Tierney said. 'Violence for the MS-13 is not necessarily in furtherance of economic benefit.' He said his office's success in shutting down much of the gang on his turf hinges largely on the feds. 'The reason why it's gotten significantly better is primarily the federal government — the FBI, the US Attorney's Office. And I was part of that, but it was those agencies. They took a lot of these violent actors off the streets and made it better.' MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha 13, was formed by immigrants from El Salvador in the US who fled civil war in their country in the late 1980s and early 1990s, according to federal officials. Initially meant to protect migrants from violence, the gang grew into one of the most notorious criminal enterprises in the country, relying more on violent attacks than traditional criminal activities. Gang members have three rules that dictate death sentences — no member can cooperate with police, no outsider can disrespect the gang, and rival gangbangers are to be executed on sight, Tierney said. In New York, MS-13 established a strong presence on Long Island, peaking in 2015, leaving behind a trail of ruthless and merciless violence against even helpless teenagers. In October, a gang hanger-on nicknamed 'Little Devil' was sentenced to 50 years in prison for luring four men to a local park where a gang of MS-13 thugs hacked them to death. Leniz Escobar, 24, was convicted in 2022 of four counts of murder in aid of racketeering and one count of racketeering in connection with the horrifying crime. In July, Alexi Saenz, 29 — the reputed former head of the Sailors Locos Salvatruchas Westside clique — admitted he was behind a series of slayings that included the deaths of Nisa Mickens, 15, and her 16-year-old friend, Kayla Cuevas, who were beaten and hacked to death in 2016. In March 2024 police in Suffolk County said two severed heads and other scattered body parts found at a Babylon park were believed to be linked to MS-13. Tren de Aragua, a more recent migrant menace in the Big Apple and surrounding suburbs, exploited city funded shelters in the five boroughs by recruiting new members and spearheading illegal operations. Despite their capacity for violence, TdA largely relies on drug, gun and human trafficking, and grab-and-go robberies by crews of moped-riding migrants — focusing more on illicit profits than assault and murder. Both MS-13 and Tren de Aragua were designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the Trump administration, which has launched nationwide raids to expel illegal immigrants.
CBS News
05-03-2025
- CBS News
Long Island theft ring "CC Boyz" ripped off more than 50 high-end cars, police say
A multi-agency law enforcement team has taken down a large car theft ring on Long Island, authorities say. More than a dozen people were charged Tuesday in more than 50 high-end car break-ins across Suffolk County over the last two years. 13 members of the "CC Boyz" indicted The indictment ties 52 car thefts and break-ins to 13 alleged members of a ring that called itself "CC Boyz" -- CC standing for "car checking," which is what they are accused of doing in high-end neighborhoods, looking for unlocked doors, mirrors not folded in, wallets inside, or, in some cases, the whole car. "They would use real estate apps such as Zillow and Realtor to find specific neighborhoods," Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said. "They would steal the cards in the middle of the night and immediately go to the store to use those cards before the victims knew what was going on." Tierney said they targeted parking lots where cars are often left unlocked, like at country clubs and even assisted living facilities, and later would proudly post their cash on social media. Police said the cars weren't sold, but instead were used as transportation to buy gift cards and money orders. "Today's arrests are proof of this fact: you can't outsmart law enforcement, forever, no matter how hard you try. One the biggest mistakes they made was to use postal money orders," U.S. Postal Inspector Brendan Donahue said. Police said all of the 52 cars were actually recovered, but they were first used to commit other crimes. "I think the message is if you're going to engage in this organized repetitive criminal activity, you're going to be held responsible," Tierney said. "We have victims whose lives are upended by this" The pattern was solved by the Suffolk County Police Department, which said it shared images with other departments that ended up recognizing the alleged ring leader, Sean Mullen of Freeport, who was found with 20 key fobs, 122 drivers licenses, 45 stolen credit cards, 15 Social Security cards. "We have victims whose lives are upended by this. There credit scores are destroyed. Their cars are taken. Days missed at work, so it's a crime we take very seriously," Commissioner Kevin Catalina said. "When they were using the credit card their faces were partially covered, but not completely. We were able to get a couple of people identified and that started the case rolling." Tina Brown of Bayport said she woke up one day in 2023 to find her car gone. A fob had been accidentally left inside. "In the morning, a car pulled up right at the base of the driveway and a guy came around, got into the car, and just took off with it," Brown said. Dozens of similar cases have plagued Suffolk County ever since. Only a few of the accused were held on bail, the DA says Of the people charged, only four were held on bail because they are accused of committing non-bail-eligible crimes, which prompted another plea from DA Tierney. "Our legislators to allow organize criminal and gang member to engage repetitive organized criminal activity, we can't even seek bail on them," Tierney said. Officials say the arrests also serve as yet another reminder that leaving your car unlocked or with a fob inside is an invitation to thieves.
