Poughkeepsie Gang Member Sentenced To 34 Years In Prison For June 2020 Murder Of 16-Year-Old And Other Offenses

Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ELIJAH BERMUDEZ, a/k/a "Quiet," was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Nelson S. Román to 34 years in prison in connection with his criminal activities as a member of the violent gang Bully Hard Hunna Blood ("Bully Hard") for racketeering and firearms offenses. As part of his participation in the Bully Hard racketeering conspiracy, on June 20, 2020, BERMUDEZ stabbed a teenager and shot and killed a second teenager: 16-year-old bystander Frederick Wells, known to his friends and family as "Khabir." BERMUDEZ's murder of Wells arose out of a dispute between Bully Hard gang members and members of a rival set of Bloods called the Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation ("Gorilla Stone"), which led to, three months later, a retaliatory September 21, 2020, broad daylight murder of a second minor victim, 15-year-old Jalani Jones, in Poughkeepsie. Previously, Gorilla Stone leader Brandon Soto was convicted and sentenced to 35 years in prison for his role in planning and ordering the retaliatory September 21, 2020, murder of Jones. BERMUDEZ previously pled guilty on July 9, 2024, before Judge Román.

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said: "Elijah Bermudez murdered Frederick Wells, an innocent 16-year-old bystander who spent his last moments running for his life, trying to escape Bermudez's gunfire. Tragically, Wells lost his life for simply being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Today's significant sentence holds Bermudez accountable for this senseless murder, as well as for his participation in the wide range of crimes committed by the Bully Hard gang, including Bermudez's stabbing of a second teenage victim. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to relentlessly pursue any gangs who threaten the safety of New Yorkers."

According to allegations in the Indictment and Information and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings:

From early 2020 to April 2022, 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. Bully Hard operated in New York City and Upstate New York, including in Poughkeepsie. Members and associates of Bully Hard engaged in a series of violent disputes with rivals, as well as those within Bully Hard who they deemed disloyal. During these disputes, members and associates of Bully Hard committed murder, shootings, and assaults against their rivals. They also distributed heroin and marijuana.

On June 20, 2020, BERMUDEZ shot and killed 16-year-old bystander Wells in the vicinity of Charles Street in Poughkeepsie in furtherance of his membership in the Bully Hard racketeering enterprise. Specifically, on the night of June 20, 2020, BERMUDEZ and another member of Bully Hard ("Bully Hard Member-1") got into a physical fight with members of Gorilla Stone, a rival set of Bloods. During the fight, Bully Hard Member-1 confronted a 17-year-old Gorilla Stone member ("Gorilla Stone Member-1"). At the time, Gorilla Stone Member-1 was standing with Wells, who was Gorilla Stone Member-1's friend from school, was not in a gang, and was a bystander to the altercation. BERMUDEZ then stabbed Gorilla Stone Member-1, picked up Bully Hard Member-1's gun, which had dropped to the ground, and shot Wells as Wells tried to run away. Wells was found dead with a gunshot wound to his head.

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In addition to the prison term, BERMUDEZ, 32, of New York, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release. On July 9, 2024, BERMUDEZ pled guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition, and one count of conspiracy to possess ammunition after a felony conviction.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force. Mr. Clayton also thanked the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department and Dutchess County District Attorney's Office for their assistance in the case.

This case is being handled by the Office's White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David R. Felton, Courtney L. Heavey, Shiva H. Logarajah, and Kevin T. Sullivan are in charge of the prosecution.