Violent Bronx Gang Members Arrested for Threatening Witness and Family
Two members of a violent Bronx gang, Tyshawn “Ty Boogie” Palmer, 32, and Hassan “Twin” Brown, 34, were arrested for making chilling threats to kill the young son and pregnant wife of a witness who helped convict a gang leader of murder, according to federal authorities.
The threats were posted on Instagram during the recent trial of Lamar “Black” Williams, 35, a leader of the “Mac Ballers” sect of the Bloods, who was convicted of murder on February 11.
The gang members posted threats alongside a photo of the witness and his young child, who is a kindergarten student, stating, “We gon killa season at that lil n—ga school,” prosecutors allege.
Palmer, Brown, and other Mac Ballers members also posted a photo of the witness’s pregnant wife at her baby shower, along with several messages calling the witness a “rat” and a “snitch,” court papers say.
US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, condemned the threats, stating, “They issued brazen threats of death for all to see. This is a serious crime, one that undermines all that we hold dear in our justice system.”
The witness testified during the trial despite the threats, leading to Williams’ conviction on all charges, including the murder of 28-year-old Rasheed Barton in 2013.
Williams was found guilty of murder in aid of racketeering, murder through use of a firearm, and racketeering conspiracy, with a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison.
Palmer and Brown were arrested in New Jersey and the Bronx, respectively, and appeared in Manhattan federal court where they were held without bail.
Both face potential life sentences if convicted of witness tampering and retaliation. The NYPD and federal agents worked together on the case, with NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch calling the actions a deliberate attack on the integrity of the judicial system.
Attorneys representing Palmer and Brown could not be reached for comment.
