Metro

Nine inmates charged in Brooklyn detention center stabbing deaths, assaults: feds

By
Steve Janoski
Published Sep. 30, 2024, 8:10 p.m. ET

The feds have 🅺announced charges against nine inmates at a Brooklyn det𒁏ention center for a series of savagely violent assaults that have left two men dead and others critically injured.

Each of the su𒅌spects were already being held on other charges at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Sunset Park.

But they made a bad situation worse when they went after their fellow inmates, according to a statement from US Attorney Breon Peace, of the Eastern Distri꧂ct of New York.

Nine inmates at Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn were charged for a series of stabbings that left two men dead and other critically injured.
Nine inmates at Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn were charged for a series of stabbings that left two men dead and other critically injured. Paul Martinka

“Violence will not be tolerated in our federal jails,” Peace said. “Let these chargꦡes serve as a warning to those wღho would engage in criminal conduct behind bars, and anyone else who facilitates those crimes: your conduct will be exposed, and you will be held accountable.”

Two of the men — Andrew Simpson, 26, of Brooklyn, and Devone Thomas, 24, of Queens — have been indicted for a♕llegedly stabbing inmate Uriel Whyte to dea🐟th on June 7, Peace said.

Three more — Jamaul Aziz, 44, of Manhattan, also knꦺown as “bugz”; James Bazemore, 42, of the Bronx, who goes by “TJ” or “RS”; and Alberto Santiago, 28, of Queens, who is called “dotcom” on the street — were indicted for the alleged July 17 murder of inmate Edwin Cordero, he added.

Both groups of killers used makeshift knives to do their 🔴bloody work, Peac๊e said.

All five have been charged with murder, and could face life in prison if con🌺vicꦑted.

All nine inmates were already being held at the Sunset Park jail on other charges.
All nine inmates were already being held at the Sunset Park jail on other charges. Paul Martinka

Another inmate, Luis Rivas, 29,🀅 of Jamaica, has been charged with attempted murder for stabbing a fellow inmate 44 times in April.

Bruce Silva, 28, of the Bronx, a🌳nd Hassan Elliott, 26, of Philadelphia, face assault charges for trying to stab another incarcerated man. And L💃eury Mojica, 21, of the Bronx, faces a charge of assaulting a federal officer for punching a guard in the face in August.

“Several inmates of Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Cen✃ter allegedly orchestrated a series of distinct violent assaults, including the murders of fellow inmates, Uriel Whyte and Edwin Cordero,” FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy said in a statement.

“While this federal jail houses dangerous pretrial inmates, order and safety must remain paramount,” Dennehy continued. “Awaiting potential criminal charges is not a warranted justification to ꦑsubject a detained individual to unnecessary attacks.”

Each꧃ of the suspects will be arr꧂aigned over the next few days, the statement said.