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Ade N’Gaii, age 39, of Harlem, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison in Suffolk County Court on Monday, March 27. It came after a jury found him guilty of second-degree murder in the killing of Kristopher Appel in October 2018.
Prosecutors said N’Gaii and three others first drove to Appel’s home in Patchogue armed with a handgun to steal money and marijuana. However, they were unable to physically break into his house.
The group returned to Appel’s home on Nov. 2, 2018 while disguised as construction workers, according to prosecutors. Donning hard hats and reflective vests, the four broke into the home, where they brutally beat and stabbed Appel to death.
Suffolk County Police officers later discovered the man’s body in the front vestibule of his building.
Investigators were able to tie N’Gaii to the crime scene after recovering a reflective vest with his DNA on it, prosecutors said. Text messages to accomplices also placed him in the area at the time of the murder.
More than two years went by before N’Gaii was finally arrested in June 2021. On Feb. 24, 2023, N’Gaii was convicted of second-degree murder.
“This defendant could have walked away from the plan to invade the victim’s home when it failed the first time. But, instead, he doubled down,” Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said in a statement.
“His desire to enrich himself was so great that it led to murder. Now, he’ll get to spend a significant time in prison for that choice.”
An accomplice to the killing, 41-year-old Omar Sam, pleaded guilty to attempted murder in May 2021 and is awaiting sentencing.
Another accomplice, 29-year-old Joshua Rodriguez, pleaded guilty to felony conspiracy in November 2021. He is due to be sentenced in March 2023.
A third accomplice has not been identified or charged.
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