Leader of Brooklyn-Based Elite Assassin Millas Gang Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison for Racketeering Conspiracy and Firearms Offenses

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Quandel Smothers, also known as "Chucky," was sentenced by United States District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto to 23 years in prison for racketeering conspiracy and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in connection with his leadership of the East New York-based Elite Assassin Millas (E.A.M.), a set of the Bloods street gang. Smothers was convicted of the charges by a federal jury in February 2023 following a two-week trial. Smothers conspired with other gang members and associates to deal drugs, commit fraud and to murder or attempt to murder their rivals from 2006 to 2019, resulting in multiple shootings that left one individual dead and several other victims permanently disabled.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the sentence.

"Smothers, who fancied himself the gang's "Godfather" and East New York his 'Gun Town,' deserves the decades behind bars imposed today for leading a criminal enterprise that endangered the community with their mindless killing, shootings and assaults of rivals," stated United States Attorney Peace. "This Office and our law enforcement partners have dismantled the Elite Assassin Millas and will continue the important work of ridding our district of violent groups that have no respect for the law or human life."

Mr. Peace thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, and the New York City Police Department for outstanding work in the case.

As proven at trial, E.A.M. operated primarily in East New York, which the gang referred to as "Gun Town." The gang made money through fraud and drug dealing, particularly sales of crack cocaine and marijuana. Smothers rose to the leadership position of E.A.M. through violence and fear. E.A.M. members reporting to Smothers referred to themselves as "Homicide Town." Smothers agreed with other gang members and associates to deal drugs, commit fraud, and to murder or attempt to murder their rivals from 2006 to 2019, resulting in numerous shootings.

On April 30, 2011, Smothers, the so-called "Godfather" or "GF" of E.A.M., shot a fellow E.A.M. member in the torso and leg over a drug and loyalty-related dispute, causing the victim's leg to be amputated. Over the years that Smothers led the gang, his underlings engaged in feuds with other local street gangs in East New York that frequently resulted in shootouts between the groups. As a result of shootings, two individuals were paralyzed by members of E.A.M., and one victim - Michael Tenorio - was murdered.

All six other members and associates of E.A.M. that were charged with the defendant have pleaded guilty to crimes including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, assault, and interstate stalking causing life threatening injury. Tyshawn Corbett was sentenced to 45 years' imprisonment; Marlon Bristol was sentenced to 135 months' imprisonment; Devon Bristol was sentenced to 80 months' imprisonment; Desmonn Beckett was sentenced to 64 months' imprisonment; and Andrew Campbell was sentenced to 30 months' imprisonment. Qawon Allen is awaiting sentencing.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice's violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

The government's case is being handled by the Office's Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Galeotti, Genny Ngai and Jonathan Siegel are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Brittany Wissel.

The Defendant:

QUANDEL SMOTHERS (also known as "Chucky")
Age: 32
Brooklyn, New York

Defendants Who Pleaded Guilty

TYSHAWN CORBETT (also known as "Reck")
Age: 32
Brooklyn, New York

QAWON ALLEN (also known as "40" and "Phorty Wap")
Age: 28
Brooklyn, New York

DESMONN BECKETT (also known as "Des")
Age: 30
Brooklyn, New York

DEVON BRISTOL (also known as "D")
Age: 32
Brooklyn, New York

MARLON BRISTOL (also known as "Marlo")
Age: 35
Brooklyn, New York

ANDREW CAMPBELL (also known as "Phaze")
Age: 27
Brooklyn, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-213 (KAM)