Hyena Crips Gang Member Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Racketeering and 2019 Murder of a 15-Year-Old

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Martial H. Amilcar, also known as "Drippy," a member of Hyena Crips, was sentenced by United States District Judge Ann M. Donnelly to 30 years' imprisonment for racketeering, predicated on the murder of 15-year-old Samuel Joseph and the attempted gunpoint robbery of a Brooklyn pharmacy.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Ricky J. Patel, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI) announced the sentence.

"In seeking to exact retribution and promote gang violence, Amilcar ended the life of an innocent child," stated United States Attorney Nocella. "A lengthy prison sentence cannot undo the loss this family and this community has suffered but it delivers a powerful message that senseless violence carries serious consequences."

"Martial Amilcar's sentencing is a testament to HSI New York's relentless commitment to protecting innocent New Yorkers from violent gangs that have brutalized our neighborhoods and exploited fraud schemes to fund their reign of terror," stated HSI Special Agent in Charge Patel. "The defendant's cold-blooded murder of 15-year-old Samuel Joseph and the violent attempted robbery that endangered families and a child highlight the deadly grip gang violence holds on our communities. Today serves as a powerful reminder that HSI New York, together with our partners, will relentlessly pursue those who devastate our neighborhoods and shatter innocent lives with their savagery."

Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to HSI's Violent Gang Task Force, the New York City Police Department, and the Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General for their outstanding work in this investigation.

As detailed in court filings, the Hyena Crips set of the Crips street gang follows many of the rules and the hierarchical structure of other Crips sets, earning money through fraud and robberies, and protecting their reputation through violent crimes.

February 22, 2019 Murder of Samuel Joseph

As detailed in court documents, including the government's sentencing memorandum, Amilcar shot and killed 15-year-old Samuel Joseph on February 22, 2019 in retaliation for an altercation earlier the same day between Amilcar's brother, also a Hyena Crips gang member, and Joseph's older brother, a rival gang member. Amilcar's brother attacked the rival gang member outside a convenience store located on the 1300-block of Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, and the rival gang member stabbed Amilcar's brother in the leg.

Shortly after the altercation, Amilcar changed his clothing and contacted various alleged members of the Hyena Crips, including a co-defendant who then met Amilcar. Amilcar and the co-defendant drove to Samuel Joseph's apartment building and waited outside. As Joseph walked down a staircase towards the building's exit, Amilcar walked into the building, pulled out a gun and shot Joseph three times at close range, killing him. The shooting and events leading up to it were captured on security camera footage taken nearby.

June 9, 2020 Attempted Robbery of a Brooklyn Pharmacy

On June 9, 2020, the defendant and two other alleged members of the Hyena Crips attempted to rob a pharmacy on the 3400-block of Avenue H in Brooklyn. Amilcar and the others entered the pharmacy and ordered the customers, employees and a small child to the back of the store. Amilcar placed his hands around a victim's throat, displayed a firearm and ordered her to the back of the store. He jumped over the cashier's counter in an attempt to rob the store but ultimately fled the pharmacy. Video surveillance from inside the pharmacy captured the incident.

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Eight defendants were charged in the superseding indictment with racketeering in connection with their membership in the Hyena Crips. Two defendants have pleaded guilty, including Amilcar's brother Martial C. Amilcar. Yesterday, November 12, 2025, Martial C. Amilcar was sentenced by United States District Judge Ann M. Donnelly to 96 months' imprisonment for racketeering in connection with conspiring to commit fraud using means of identification to defraud the Small Business Administration and conspiring to murder rival gang members.

Trial is scheduled to begin for the five remaining defendants on January 26, 2026. The racketeering charges at trial include the previously unsolved murders of Leandre Mallinckrodt at the West Indian Day Parade on Labor Day 2012 and Roodson Polynice in September 2020.

The government's case is being handled by the Office's Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Devon Lash, Jessica Weigel and Joshua Dugan are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of paralegal specialists Elizabeth Reed and Erin Payne.

The Defendant:

MARTIAL H. AMILCAR, also known as "Drippy"
Age: 28
Brooklyn, New York

Previously Convicted Defendants:

MARTIAL C. AMILCAR, also known as "Hype"
Age: 27
Brooklyn, New York

MATTHEW HARRIS, also known as "Kappy"
Age: 26
Brooklyn, New York

Defendants Awaiting Trial:

BRADLEY AUGUSTIN, also known as "Cradley"
Age: 26
Brooklyn, New York

DAVE AUGUSTIN, also known as "Juice"
Age: 39
Brooklyn, New York

RICK JASMIN, also known as "Jab"
Age: 32
Brooklyn, New York

WISNY JOSEPH, also known as "Weezy"
Age: 34
Brooklyn, New York

RICHLER MORETTE, also known as "Breezy"
Age: 30
Brooklyn, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-18 (S1)(AMD)