ATF and NYPD End “Reign of Terror” with Arrest of Violent Robbery Crew Linked to New Rochelle Robbery and Assault on Pelham Road

Agents of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and officers from the New York Police Department arrested 5 men this morning in connection with a series of violent robberies in The Bronx And Westchester County including one robbery and assault on Pelham Road last fall.

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Joseph Anarumo Jr., the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Raymond W. Kelly, the Commissioner of the Police Department for the City of New York (“NYPD”), announced charges today against Fahd Hussain, Jermaine Dore, Dwayne Barrett, Taijay Todd, and Tameshwar Singh – five members of a violent robbery crew that operated in the Bronx and Westchester County, New York.

According to an indictment handed down this morning, on October 11th, 2011, Fahd Hussain, Jermaine Dore and Taijay Todd robbed at knifepoint a person engaged in the business of selling telephone calling cards during which the victim was beaten and more than $6,000 in cash and another $6,000 worth of telephone calling cards was taken from the victim. Other violent robberies like to the five-man crew occurred in Mount Vernon and The Bronx in which one victim was shot and killed and two others in which victims were stabbed during the course of the robberies.

“As alleged, these defendants used guns, knives, and other weapons to terrorize their victims, so they could steal whatever was available,” said Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara. “|They targeted local merchants across the Bronx and Westchester County, and with today’s arrests, their reign of terror has come to an end.”

“Excellent police work and solid partnerships led to today’s arrests of these violent criminals who used firearms to terrorize our communities and local business owners,” said ATF Special Agent-in-Charge Joseph Anarumo Jr. “Today’s cooperative effort by law enforcement demonstrates, ATF and all of our law enforcement partners have and will continue to devote our energy and resources towards the insurance that those who commit violent crimes are arrested and face the maximum punishment allowed by the law.”

“Fahd Hussain and his robbery crew committed a series of strong-arm robberies of victims who were known to be carrying large sums of cash,” said NYPD Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly. ” In one case a victim was shot and killed. I commend the NYPD’s Bronx Robbery Squad, ATF agents and the US Attorney’s Office for arresting and indicting Hussain and his dangerous accomplices.”

As alleged in the Indictment, which was unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:
From 2010 through January 2012, Hussain, Dore, Barrett, Todd, and Singh allegedly participated in a conspiracy to commit robberies, in which they used, carried, and possessed firearms. They allegedly carried out the robberies using weapons, including firearms and knives, to injure and terrorize the victims. Specifically, the defendants allegedly participated in six robberies in the Bronx and Westchester County during this time period:

• On October 5, 2011, in the vicinity of 2870 Webster Avenue in The Bronx, NY, Hussain, Barrett, and Todd robbed two individuals who sell telephone calling cards to bodegas, grocery stores and other commercial locations of approximately $700.
• On October 7, 2011, in the vicinity of 2214 Newbold Avenue in The Bronx, NY, Hussain, Dore, Todd, and Singh robbed at knifepoint a bodega owner and two store employees and stole more than $1,200. During the robbery, two of the victims were stabbed.
• On October 11, 2011, in the vicinity of 123 Pelham Road in New Rochelle, NY, Hussain, Dore, and Todd beat and robbed at knife-point an individual who sells telephone calling cards. They stole more than $6,000 and telephone calling cards valued at approximately $6,000 from the victim.
• On December 12, 2011, in the vicinity of 267 South Fourth Avenue in Mount Vernon, NY, Dore and Barrett attempted to rob at gunpoint three victims who sold cigarettes to other individuals and to commercial establishments. During the attempted robbery, one of the victims was shot and killed.
• Also on December 12, 2011, in the vicinity of 1032 Esplanade Avenue in The Bronx, NY, Hussain, Dore, and Barrett threatened with a gun and knife an individual employed by a company that sells tobacco products to commercial establishments, and robbed the victim of more than $15,000.
• On December 31, 2011, in the vicinity of East Gun Hill Road and Jerome Avenue in The Bronx, NY, Hussain and Barrett beat and robbed an individual who sells calling cards. They stole $3,000, and 100 telephone calling cards.

Hussain, 34, of the Bronx, Dore, 25, of the Bronx, Barrett, 34, of Yonkers, New York, Todd, 28, of the Bronx, and Singh, 37, of the Bronx, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit robbery (Count One) and one count of using, carrying, and possessing a firearm in connection with the robbery conspiracy (Count Two). Count One carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and Count Two carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, with a mandatory minimum of ten years, to run consecutive with every other sentence imposed.

Hussain, Dore, Barrett, Todd, and Singh Indictment