An investigation into a rash of Uber and Lyft robberies led to the dismantling of a violent gang responsible for shootings that wounded innocent people, authorities said Tuesday.
The bust by Manhattan and Bronx prosecutors began with a single $750 theft from a Lyft driver in March 2020. That snowballed into the arrests of eight violent gangbangers in the 30 Block gang, whose shootouts wounded a father protecting his kids and a 52-year-old woman who suffered a life-altering injury after gunfire in the Bronx, authorities said.
The investigation, which linked the robberies of Uber and Lyft drivers to a surge in summer gun violence, resulted 155 criminal counts against the alleged gangsters, including conspiracy to commit murder.
“These alleged gang members are charged with the two gang activities that plague our communities—financial crimes and wanton gun violence,” said Bronx DA Darcel Clark. “I will not let people destroy the Bronx bullet by bullet.”
Officials said the crooks came up with a creative scheme to rob e-hail drivers, who aren’t paid in cash. They allegedly tricked the drivers into handing over their cellphones by claiming they were having trouble entering a destination. The gangsters would then distract the driver and quickly transfer the victim’s in-app earnings to their own personal bank accounts using debit cards and mobile banking apps like Cash App, prosecutors said. The scheme earned four accused gang members $6,500 from more than 50 drivers, according to Manhattan DA Cy Vance.
An investigation of the alleged e-hail bandits’ social media accounts uncovered photos of cash and money orders. Further digging revealed the gangbangers were using debit cards loaded with fraudulently obtained pandemic-related unemployment benefits, officials said. Several suspects allegedly used stolen identities to receive more than $300,000 in unemployment funds from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, Oklahoma, Kansas, Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
Additionally, three defendants received more than $50,000 in unemployment benefits directly from New York State, officials said.
Search warrants on the Bronx, Yonkers, and Mount Vernon homes of suspects led to evidence of violent crimes, including a Sept. 21 shooting at a Bronx car dealership on Boston Rd. aimed at a rival gang member.
The accused gunmen missed their target — who was looking at luxury vehicles — and instead shot a 39-year-old Bronx man buying a car with his three children, authorities said. The victim was struck three times as he shielded his children with his body. A bullet remains in his thigh.
Nine days later, a 52-year-old woman was shot along E. 224th during an attack on a rival gang member.
Among those arrested were Akeyle Baker, 22, Daijon Crawford, 21, Aaron Heredia, 21, and Zykeith Fearon, 21. Authorities said searches connected them to guns and or drugs.
Charges against the suspects include conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon.
All of the suspects were arraigned and remanded without bail.
