Earlier today, Marcus Ricketts was sentenced to 25 years in prison by United States District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall for causing death through the use of a firearm. Ricketts had pleaded guilty to the charge on April 4, 2024.
The sentence was announced by Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge at the Federal Bureau of Investigation's New York Field Office.
United States Attorney Nocella stated, "My Office continues to work tirelessly to dismantle violent robbery crews that wreak havoc on communities throughout New York City, such as the one the defendant led. Today’s sentencing reaffirms that brazen and incorrigible violence will be severely punished. It also reconfirms our commitment to prosecuting defendants who are here illegally and commit violent acts to the fullest extent of the law."
FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia commented, "For years, Marcus Ricketts led a violent robbery crew targeting victims across the city with firearms and threats of death, which was followed through on one occasion. Despite a previous conviction and deportation, Ricketts continued to display little concern for the law with repeated attempts to unlawfully enrich himself and his cohorts. May today’s sentencing reflect the FBI’s steadfast commitment to crush violent crime and deter chronic recidivists from entering this country illegally determined to wreak criminal havoc in our communities."
Ricketts led an armed robbery crew targeting marijuana dealers throughout New York City. The crew included co-defendants Mark Goulbourne, Jonathan Goulbourne, Juvanie Crossgill, Chevonne Williams, Amari Webber, and Romeo Jonas.
Between June 2020 and December 2021, after illegally returning to the United States following his deportation, Ricketts perpetrated three armed robberies with his crew. One of these incidents resulted in a shootout and murder.
In July 2020, he orchestrated a robbery in the Bronx where approximately 40 pounds of marijuana were stolen at gunpoint. In October 2021, another robbery took place in Staten Island resulting in theft of about 100 pounds of marijuana and a car.
The most serious incident occurred in December 2021 when Ricketts organized a robbery at an Airbnb in Brighton Beach involving approximately 165 pounds of marijuana. This event ended with a shootout that killed one victim from Poughkeepsie (Victim 3) and wounded another (Victim 4).
Following these events, some members of Ricketts' crew have already been sentenced while others await trial or sentencing. Mark Goulbourne has pled not guilty with his trial scheduled for June 16, 2025.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces operation aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations threatening U.S. security using coordinated multi-agency efforts.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Tara B. McGrath, Chand W. Edwards-Balfour, Rebecca M. Schuman, and Francisco J. Navarro from the International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section.