US PROSECUTOR SEH A GREED MEK DEM KILL TURNUP

United States Attorney’s Office

Southern District of New York

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE

Monday, January 25, 2016 James Margolin, Dawn Dearden,

http://www.justice.gov/usao/nys Christian Saint-Vil

NYPD USMS

Stephen Davis Kevin Kamrowski

(646) 610-6700 (212) 331-7126

ONEIL SCOTT ARRESTED AND CHARGED IN MANHATTAN FEDERAL COURT WITH VIOLENT ATTEMPTED ROBBERY AND KIDNAPPING OF BRONX MAN RESULTING IN HIS DEATH

Kidnappers Allegedly Placed Victim’s Body in Vehicle Parked in Bronx Alleyway

and Set It Afire as Part of Attempted Cover-Up

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Michael Greco, the Southern District of New York United States Marshal (“USMS”), and William Bratton, the Police Commissioner of the City of New York (“NYPD”), announced the arrest of ONEIL SCOTT on charges of robbery conspiracy, attempted robbery, kidnapping conspiracy, kidnapping resulting in death, and firearms offenses. At the time he was charged, SCOTT was serving a federal sentence on a robbery conviction arising from his participation in a Bronx armed robbery in approximately September 2010. Two other defendants, ALVIN HENRY and CHAI GREEN, were arrested on Tuesday, January 19, 2016, in connection with the same charges, contained in an Indictment unsealed the same day. All three defendants have been remanded and remain in custody.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “As alleged, these three defendants, for no reason other than greed, carried out a scheme to kidnap and rob a suspected narcotics trafficker, ultimately taking his life. Those who use violence to terrorize our communities will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

U.S. Marshal Michael Greco said: “Oneil Scott is a dangerous individual who was involved in a myriad of criminal activity. The diligent and joint efforts by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the New York Police Department and the Marshals Service in getting him back to New York in order to face these additional charges makes our streets safer and is another win for the justice system.

NYPD Commissioner William Bratton said: “As alleged, these individuals participated in a kidnapping so violent that it resulted in death of their intended target. Adding insult to injury, the victim was set on fire, and his body abandoned in the back seat of a vehicle in a Bronx alleyway. I commend the work of the NYPD detectives, prosecutors and U.S. Marshals for their work and cooperation in this long-term investigation that resulted in theses arrests and indictments for this heinous crime.”

According to the allegations contained in the Indictment[1] and other documents in the public record, and statements made in court:

In 2014, SCOTT, HENRY, GREEN, and others committed multiple armed robberies of suspected narcotics traffickers. During one of these attempted armed robberies, they violently assaulted and ultimately killed their intended target. Just after midnight on the morning of March 11, 2014, SCOTT, HENRY, GREEN, and others apprehended the victim, Wayne Thomas, then 22 years old, of the Bronx, as the victim was parking his car in front of his residence. The defendants suspected that the victim was a drug trafficker who might be in possession of narcotics and/or narcotics proceeds. During the kidnapping, which was caught on surveillance video, several individuals violently grabbed the victim, pistol-whipped him, forced him into another car, and drove off with him. During both the kidnapping and the defendants’ subsequent attempts to obtain information about the whereabouts of drugs and drug money, the victim was seriously assaulted.

At approximately 5:30 a.m. on March 11, 2014, members of the New York City Police Department and the New York City Fire Department responded to 911 calls reporting a burning vehicle in an alleyway in the Bronx. Upon arriving at the scene, they observed a car still on fire. The Fire Department extinguished the fire, and officials then became aware that the victim’s body was in the back seat of the car. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of New York City subsequently performed an autopsy on the victim, and concluded that the cause of death was not fire-related injuries, but rather blunt force trauma, indicating that the victim had died before being placed in the rear of the vehicle.

ALVIN HENRY’s true name was unknown until his arrest by law enforcement officials on January 19, 2016 in connection with the instant charges.

* * *

SCOTT, 33, of the Bronx, HENRY, 27, of the Bronx, and GREEN, 36, of the Bronx are each charged with one count of robbery conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of attempted robbery, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of kidnapping conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of kidnapping resulting in death, which carries a maximum sentence of death; and one count of use of a firearm, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants will be determined by a judge

Mr. Bharara praised the investigative work of the USMS and the NYPD.

The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher J. DiMase and Margaret Graham are in charge of the prosecution.