Six individuals alleged to be members of a Bronx-based group known as the “Elsmere Crew” have been charged in connection with two fatal shootings and a third non-fatal shooting that occurred in 2020. The charges were announced by Jay Clayton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, along with Ricky J. Patel, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York Field Office, and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (NYPD).
The defendants—Storm Jones; Michael Ortiz, also known as “Dot”; Randy Maccow; Mario Medina, also known as “Flacco”; Jayson Holland, also known as “Jerry” or “Ninety”; and Francis Ofori, also known as “Ghana”—were each already in custody within New York City or State before being transferred to federal custody. The final two defendants were arraigned in Manhattan federal court on the day of the announcement. U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman is overseeing the case.
“As alleged, these defendants wreaked havoc across a Bronx neighborhood through a string of robberies and killings,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “New Yorkers want and deserve safe streets and those who pursue violence as a way of life will be brought to justice.”
“As alleged, these defendants carried out their violent sprees with depravity, which resulted in the deaths of two victims and the near loss of a third,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel. “However long it takes, HSI New York, the NYPD and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York will relentlessly target violent criminals to ensure no victims suffer in vain and the public remains as safe as possible.”
“These alleged Elsmere crew members carried out cold-blooded murders, violent crime sprees, and tried to dodge accountability—all while carrying illegal guns and illicit narcotics,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “Two New Yorkers lost their lives, another was seriously injured, and entire communities were shattered by this violence. The NYPD’s strategy is simple: to keep our streets safe, remove gangs from the equation—and that’s why we have carried out more than 50 gang-related takedowns and arrested almost 400 gang members this year alone. I want to thank the NYPD investigators, HSI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their relentless work to make sure these defendants are brought to justice.”
According to allegations outlined in court documents and statements made during proceedings—which remain accusations unless proven otherwise—the Elsmere Crew used an address at 804 Elsmere Place in the Bronx as a base for drug use, planning crimes involving firearms, coordinating acts of violence such as robberies or shootings nearby, and evading law enforcement after criminal activity.
On August 2, 2020, Storm Jones allegedly shot Clarence Adams during a dispute over drug dealing several blocks from 804 Elsmere Place; Adams died from his injuries while Jones reportedly fled back to that location afterward.
In subsequent months that fall—September 1st and November 3rd—members including Jones; Ortiz; Maccow; Medina; Holland; and Ofori are accused of orchestrating armed robberies near their base by luring victims under false pretenses related to marijuana sales before robbing them at gunpoint then fleeing back to their gathering place.
During one robbery on September 1st involving Jones; Ortiz; Maccow; Medina; and Holland—the victim Jeffrey German was fatally shot. On November 3rd Ortiz and Ofori participated with others in another robbery where a victim survived despite being shot.
A chart provided by authorities lists charges ranging from conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery—which can carry up to twenty years’ imprisonment—to murder through use of a firearm (life imprisonment), narcotics conspiracy (up to twenty years), multiple counts related specifically either to individual homicides or attempted murder cases via firearm possession/use statutes.
Jay Clayton commended both HSI agents’ efforts alongside NYPD officers involved in investigating these incidents.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael R. Herman and Patrick R. Moroney from the Violent and Organized Crimes Unit within the Southern District office.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law.
