Leader Of “BMB” Street Gang Sentenced To 150 Months In Prison On Racketeering Charges
NEW YORK - Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and James J. Hunt, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement (DEA) New York Division, announced that Nico Burrell, a/k/a “Zico Nico,” a leader of a violent street gang in the Bronx called the “Big Money Bosses” (“BMB”) was sentenced yesterday to 150 months in prison on racketeering charges. Burrell was sentenced by United States District Judge Alison J. Nathan.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Burrell played a leadership role in the violent BMB street gang, and himself participated in the gang’s violence and drug dealing. This violence included a shooting in February 2009 in which Burrell shot a rival gang member and an innocent bystander. In addition, Burrell was responsible for BMB’s extensive distribution of oxycodone. Yesterday’s sentence serves as a reminder that, together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to aggressively prosecute all those who engage in these senseless acts of violence and drug dealing in our communities.”
According to the Indictment and other documents filed in the case, as well as statements made during the public proceedings in this case:
BMB is a subset of the “Young Bosses,” or “YBz” street gang, which operates throughout New York City. Between 2007 and 2016, members and associates of BMB committed numerous acts of violence against rival gang members in the Bronx-including murders, attempted murders, and armed robberies-and sold crack cocaine, marijuana, and oxycodone.
Burrell was a leader of BMB. On February 11, 2009, he attempted to murder a rival gang member by shooting him in the back. One of Burrell’s bullets also struck a woman waiting at a bus stop. Both victims survived. Burrell was also responsible for the distribution of significant quantities of oxycodone by BMB.
Burrell, 25, was arrested in this case as a result of a multi-year investigation by the New York Division of the Drug Enforcement (DEA), the New York City Police Department’s Bronx Gang (the “Bronx Gang Squad”), the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Violent Gang (“HSI”), and the Joint Firearms Task Force of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and (“ATF”) into gang violence in the Northern Bronx.
On April 27, 2016, Indictment 15 Cr. (AJN) was unsealed, charging 63 members and associates of BMB with racketeering conspiracy, narcotics conspiracy, narcotics distribution, and firearms charges. One defendant remains in the case, scheduled for trial in May 2018.
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding work of NYPD’s Bronx Gang Squad, HSI, DEA, and ATF. He also thanked the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office, the Department of Investigation, NYCHA Inspector General’s Office, and the New York State Department of Parole for their ongoing support in this investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel Maimin, Micah W.J. Smith, Hagan Scotten, Jessica Feinstein, and Drew Skinner are in charge of the prosecution.
