Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney, together with law enforcement partners, today announced the 23-count indictment of six alleged members and associates of the “9-Trey” Bloods Street Gang. The indictment followed an investigation by the District Attorney’s Office Gang Violence Task Force in partnership with the Suffolk County Police Department’s Intelligence Section, the Suffolk County Police Department’s Fifth and Seventh Squads, the Riverhead Town Police Department, the Suffolk County Sherriff’s Office, and investigators from the New York State Department of Corrections.
“This investigation is an example of how valuable collaboration with our law enforcement partners can be,” said District Attorney Tierney. “This thorough investigation connected a series of related incidents and uncovered a disturbing scheme allegedly orchestrated by an incarcerated New York State inmate, which directly led to violence in Suffolk County. I commend my office, and our law enforcement partners for uncovering these alleged conspiracies and we look forward to holding all of these defendants responsible in court.”
“This case is a powerful example of how intelligence gathered inside correctional facilities can play a crucial role in preventing violence and taking dangerous individuals off our streets,” said Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. “I applaud the exceptional work of our investigators, and all the agencies involved in this operation. This level of collaboration between local, state, and federal partners is exactly what’s needed to dismantle violent criminal networks and protect our communities.”
“As demonstrated by the success of this collaborative investigation, we will not relent in our pursuit to tackle gang violence,” said Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina. “I want to commend the outstanding work of the investigators involved in this case who pieced together a series of crimes culminating with a shooting order by an NYS inmate.”
“I would like to thank the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office for its tireless efforts to keep our residents safe,” said Riverhead Chief of Police Ed Frost. “Today’s arrests highlight law enforcement’s tenacity in their commitment to reduce violence and hold those responsible for past violence accountable.”
The Investigation
According to the indictment, the defendants are allegedly members and associates of the “9-Trey Bloods” Street Gang, a subset of the nationwide Bloods street gang. In November 2024, members of law enforcement began investigating two shootings and the recovery of three illegal firearms over a two-week span from November 8, 2024, through November 22, 2024. Working with Assistant District Attorneys of the Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, over the course of more than four months, investigators executed a series of search warrants, reviewed recorded phone calls and various forms of digital evidence that revealed that the defendants allegedly engaged in criminal conspiracies to share illegal firearms and carry out a shooting ordered by defendant JOSEPH BAKER, who was incarcerated with the New York State Department of Corrections at the time.
From November 4, 2024, through November 15, 2024, BAKER allegedly ordered a for-hire shooting of a long-time rival who he wanted shot in the legs. Through recorded New York State Department of Corrections phone calls, BAKER allegedly contacted defendant IBN TURNER and others to coordinate the shooting and promised $5,000 in cash upon completion of the shooting, and an additional $5,000 upon BAKER’s release from custody, which was scheduled for May 2025.
TURNER then allegedly contacted his niece AMBER VASQUEZ, who contracted co-defendants and alleged 9-Trey Bloods associates ISAAC SMITH, DASHAD EUBANKS and LAVELL LEFTENANT to carry out the shooting. It is further alleged that during the conspiracy period, in the defendants’ collective efforts to carry out the shooting ordered by BAKER, the defendants embarked on a course of criminal conduct that included the following incidents:
November 8, 2024
It is alleged that on November 8, 2024, LEFTENANT, SMITH and another individual were pulled over by members of the Suffolk County Police Department in a vehicle driven by LEFTENANT in Huntington Station. LEFTENANT allegedly fled from the police on foot, and SMITH was arrested on scene. During a search of the vehicle, members of law enforcement allegedly recovered a loaded and operable 9mm caliber pistol, loaded with a high-capacity magazine. SMITH was allegedly found also to be in possession of quantities of fentanyl and cocaine at the time of his arrest. Following this arrest, SMITH was held on bail after being charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree and related charges.
November 10, 2024
Just two days after SMITH’s arrest, defendants EUBANKS and VASQUEZ allegedly went to a bar in Mastic looking to carry out BAKER’S orders to shoot his rival. While at the bar, it is alleged that EUBANKS engaged in a dispute with another patron. EUBANKS, who was allegedly in possession of a loaded and operable .40 caliber pistol at the time, confronted this patron in the parking lot of the bar and allegedly shot this individual one time in the chest. The victim was rushed to a local hospital for emergency treatment. EUBANKS and VASQUEZ fled the scene following the shooting and were not immediately arrested.
November 12, 2024
It is alleged that two days after the shooting in Mastic, the defendants completed the shooting ordered by BAKER.
Through analysis of cell phone records, recorded jail calls, video surveillance and other digital data, it is alleged that on November 12, 2024, defendant VASQUEZ lured the victim to a specific location in Bellport under false pretenses. While at the location, defendant LEFTENANT confronted the victim and allegedly shot the defendant in both legs with a loaded .25 caliber pistol. The victim immediately rushed himself to a local hospital where he underwent emergency treatment.
November 15, 2024
Following this shooting, the indictment alleges that defendant TURNER received half of the money that was promised by BAKER in cash, which TURNER then allegedly distributed to VASQUEZ and LEFTENANT. It is further alleged that, on November 15, 2024, VASQUEZ and LEFTENANT used this money to post bond for SMITH who had been in custody since the November 8, 2024 arrest. He was released from custody the same day. Later on that same day, members of the Suffolk County Police Department located LEFTENANT, who was wanted in connection with the November 8, 2024, car stop. When members of law enforcement approached LEFTENANT, he attempted to flee again, this time allegedly discarding a loaded and operable 9mm caliber pistol with a high capacity feeding device and laser affixed to the pistol. LEFTENANT was apprehended by police and the weapon was allegedly recovered in the area that LEFTENANT was observed discarding it.
November 22, 2024
Just one week after SMITH’s release from custody, SMITH was again arrested, this time in possession of a loaded and operable .380 caliber pistol, which police recovered after being called to VASQUEZ’s residence to respond to an alleged dispute between SMITH and VASQUEZ.
April 2025 Arrests
Following a four-month investigation and weeks-long grand jury presentation, arrest warrants were issued for the defendants on April 23, 2025.
That same day, despite having a scheduled release date in May 2025, BAKER was released early from prison pursuant to a March 31, 2025 announcement of a special order, pursuant to section 73 of the Correction Law, issued by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, which facilitated the release of certain individuals early as a response to the staffing crisis at New York State Correctional Facilities.
On April 24, 2025, despite BAKER’S early release, members of law enforcement, working with the United States Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force were able to locate and arrest BAKER, EUBANKS, VASQUEZ and TURNER. LEFTENANT and SMITH were already in custody for their prior gun arrests.
BAKER, LEFTENANT, EUBANKS and VAZQUEZ were arraigned before the Honorable Steven A. Pilewski. SMITH is in custody awaiting arraignment and TURNER was arrested in Augusta, Georgia where he is in custody awaiting extradition proceedings.
The District Attorney’s Gang Violence Task Force consists of a team of Investigators, Analysts, and Assistant District Attorneys from the District Attorney’s Office, the Suffolk County Police Department, and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department who are assigned to investigate and prosecute gang violence. The Assistant District Attorneys are from the Violent Criminal Enterprises (“VCE”) Bureau, a bureau formed by District Attorney Tierney on January 1, 2022, to specifically focus on gun violence and other criminal activity perpetrated by gangs and criminal organizations operating in, and affecting, Suffolk County. The District Attorney’s Gang Violence Task Force, working in conjunction with the VCE Bureau, and law enforcement agencies throughout Long Island, uses every investigative strategy to build successful violent gang conspiracy cases against Suffolk County’s most violent offenders. These cases, like the one detailed above, are designed to incapacitate these violent enterprises that endanger Suffolk County residents.
Indicted Defendants:
- Isaac Smith, 31, of Selden, New York, faces a top count of Assault in the First Degree and up to 25 years to life in prison. Smith’s charges are bail eligible and he is in custody and awaiting arraignment. Smith is represented by Scott Zerner, Esq.
- Lavell Leftenant, 30, of Amityville, faces a top count of Assault in the First Degree and up to 25 years to life in prison. Leftenant is remanded without bail during the pendency of this case. Leftenant is represented by Matt Rosenblum, Esq.
- Dashad Eubanks, 35, of Central Islip, faces a top count of Assault in the First Degree, and up to 25 years to life in prison. Eubanks is remanded without bail during the pendency of this case. Eubanks is represented by Keith O’Halloran, Esq.
- Amber Vasquez, 34 of Mastic Beach, faces a top count of Assault in the First Degree, and up to 25 years in prison. Vasquez is being held on $750,000 cash, $1,5000,000 bond or $7,500,000 partially secured bond. Vasquez is represented by Daniel Sullivan, Esq.
- Joseph Baker, 35, of Bohemia, faces a top count of Assault in the First Degree, and up to 25 years to life in prison. Baker is remanded without bail during the pendency of this case. Baker is represented by George Duncan, Esq.
- Ibn Turner, 47, of Mastic Beach, faces a top count of Assault in the First Degree and up to 25 years to life in prison. Turner is in custody in Georgia and awaiting extradition proceedings.
The investigation was led by investigators from the District Attorney’s Gang Violence Task Force, Detective Sean Manning of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Intelligence Section, Detective Wilson Nieves of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Fifth Squad, Erik Pedersen of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Seventh Squad, Detective Daniel Hogan of the Riverhead Town Police Department, John Gilliam and Joao Eastment from the Suffolk County Sherriff’s Office and Investigator Adam Czachor of the New York State Department of Corrections.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys William Richards, Donald Barclay, and Meaghan Powers with assistance from paralegal Brianna Cardenas of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau.
Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.