Elijah Bermudez, a/k/a “Quiet,” Charged With The Murder of a Minor Victim in the Vicinity of Charles Street in Poughkeepsie on June 20, 2020
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William Grady, the District Attorney for Dutchess County, and Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the filing of a superseding Indictment charging ELIJAH BERMUDEZ, a/k/a “Quiet,” with murder in aid of racketeering, the use of a firearm resulting in death, racketeering conspiracy, and illegal possession of ammunition, for the June 20, 2020, murder of a minor victim in the vicinity of Charles Street in Poughkeepsie, New York, in furtherance of BERMUDEZ’s participation in the Bully Hard Hunna Blood (“Bully Hard”) racketeering conspiracy.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: Gangs like Bully Hard reward violence with promotions within the group, which often leads to tragic deaths, including the minor victim in this case. We hope this investigation and prosecution brings some measure of closure to the family of Bermudez’s alleged victim.”
Dutchess County Chief Assistant District Attorney Matthew Weishaupt said: “Our office has worked for many years with our partners in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York when the federal system brings an advantage in evidentiary matters, resources, or sentencing options. We will continue to work collaboratively to eradicate the scourge of ongoing violence within our communities. We remain focused on making our communities a safer place for everyone through our continued joint efforts.
We extend thanks to all the law enforcement agencies who diligently pursued this investigation and brought it to a successful outcome. We also thank the Assistant United States Attorneys who were assigned to this case for their diligent work and effort through the investigative process.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge Michael J. Driscoll said: “As alleged, the defendant callously took the life of a minor as a member of a violent street gang. The FBI’s Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force and our law enforcement partners are committed to ensuring the safety of our communities. Violent actors will be held accountable for their wanton behavior in our criminal justice system.”
According to allegations in the Indictment unsealed in White Plains federal court:[1]
BERMUDEZ was a member or associate of a racketeering enterprise known as Bully Hard, a criminal organization whose members and associates engaged in, among other things, murder, robberies, narcotics trafficking, and fraud.
On June 20, 2020, BERMUDEZ murdered a minor victim in the vicinity of Charles Street in Poughkeepsie, New York, in furtherance of his membership in the Bully Hard racketeering enterprise.
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BERMUDEZ, 29, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum sentence of death or life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison; one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of murder through the use of a firearm, which carries a maximum sentence of death or life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison; and one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force, which is comprised of special agents and task force officers from the FBI, US Probation, New York State Police, New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Westchester County DAs Office, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Rockland DAs Office and the New York City, Westchester County, Yonkers, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, Greenburgh, White Plains, Peekskill, Ramapo, and Clarkstown Police Departments.
This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Courtney L. Heavey, David R. Felton, Kevin T. Sullivan, and Shiva H. Logarajah are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty
