Brooklyn “Bully Gang” Leaders Charged with Murder, Racketeering, and Drug Crimes
Leaders of the notorious “Bully Gang” from Brooklyn were charged Tuesday following a lengthy investigation, which culminated in a 13-week trial. The gang, known for its violent criminal activities, faced charges including murder, racketeering, and drug trafficking, operating across New York City and the Eastern Seaboard.
Derrick “Dee” Ayers, 37; Moeleek “Moe Money” Harrell, 34; Franklin “Spazz” Gillespie, 33; and Anthony “Biggie” Kennedy, 38, were convicted after a probe into their extensive criminal enterprise, spanning drug distribution, murder, robberies, and other illicit activities. US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Breon Peace, remarked that the gang’s violent actions wreaked havoc on neighborhoods like Bedford-Stuyvesant and beyond.
Among the most notorious crimes committed by the Bully Gang was the 2018 murder of Jonathan Jackson, a rival gang member. Ayers shot and killed Jackson during a gender-reveal party hosted by Harrell. This crime, alongside others, was part of a broader pattern of violence, including multiple shootings, arsons, and bribery.
Gillespie and Kennedy were involved in the murder of Mike Hawley in 2020, aimed at silencing him after he cooperated with police in a murder investigation. The gang was also heavily involved in the distribution of dangerous drugs like fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, spanning from New York and New Jersey to as far as Maine. The drugs were smuggled in creative ways, including hiding them in compartments in vehicles and soaking paper products like comic books with synthetic marijuana, which were then trafficked into Rikers Island. Even while incarcerated, Harrell and Kennedy continued to run their drug operation from within the prison.
The convictions mark the latest victory in a series of law enforcement successes, with 49 Bully Gang members having been convicted of serious crimes since 2020. These convictions are seen as a significant blow to the gang’s operations, with each defendant now facing a life sentence in prison.