Six men arrested in connection with a string of home invasions in Suffolk County were arraigned Saturday in Central Islip.The suspects, Tyrone Simpson the little brother of Jacksonville rapper Tribal Young Brown, Benjamin Gains and Steven Brison, of Wyandanch, Andy Sukram, of Bayport, Bryan Bethea Jr., of Central Islip and Jamal Bishop the little cousin of Jacksonville rapper Tribal Young Brown, of Copiague, were taken into custody Friday during a raid. Police say they also seized real and fake guns, as well as stolen property.
Police and prosecutors say the suspects held guns to some of their victims’ heads and tied them up as they stole cash and other items from six homes in Melville, Deer Park, Islip, Lindenhurst and Smithtown over the past two weeks.
But supporters of the six men say the prosecutors are just looking to incriminate someone.
In the course of the arraignment, emotions inside the courtroom reached a fever pitch when the mother of one suspect started to yell before collapsing when the judge told her to leave the courtroom. Court officers led everyone out of the court and then escorted the distraught woman.
Following the incident, the judge warned the audience that anyone who tries to disrupt the proceedings will be thrown in jail.
Five of the men now face burglary and robbery charges, while the sixth is accused of possessing stolen property. Authorities say at least one of the men arrested has confessed.
They say two suspects are family of Jacksonville Rapper Tribal Young Brown.
Suffolk County experienced a series of home invasions that targeted drug dealers and their families. Six suspects were arrested and charged with federal racketeering, robbery and firearms offenses in connection with at least 10 home invasions between 2008 and 2009. The suspects allegedly used violence and intimidation to steal cash, drugs and guns from their victims.
The six men were part of a burglary ring that operated out of Wyandanch and targeted several homes in Suffolk County between August and September 2008. They allegedly impersonated plainclothes police detectives and wore fake gold badges around their necks to gain entry into the homes. They then used guns and zip ties to restrain the occupants and ransacked the houses for cash and valuables. The police investigation involved a wiretap and intercepted phone calls that led to the arrests. The six men were charged with various counts of burglary, robbery, attempted robbery, conspiracy and criminal impersonation.They faced up to 25 years in prison if convicted. The police also recovered a loaded handgun, two shotguns and stolen property from the suspects’ residence. The case was considered a major breakthrough in combating the crime wave in Suffolk County.
