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Michael Smith, also known as “Bum Jew,” has been sentenced to 20 years in prison at the federal courthouse in Central Islip after previously pleading guilty nearly four years ago.
According to U.S. Attorney Richard Donoghue, between January 2008 and January 2014, while a high-ranking member of the Bloods, Smith processed and distributed kilograms of cocaine base in Suffolk County. He sold drugs to street-level dealers, some of whom were other gang members, and directly to drug users.
While distributing the drugs, Donoghue noted Smith was typically armed with a gun.
“With today’s sentence, Smith has been held accountable for his ruthless conduct and for profiting from the human misery he perpetuated in Suffolk County by supplying crack to other Bloods gang members for resale as well as directly to addicts himself,” Donoghue stated. “This office, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to work tirelessly to dismantle violent street gangs in our communities.”
On Nov. 14, 2011, Smith got into a dispute with one of his drug suppliers in front of a Patchogue bar. During the dispute, Smith shot the supplier in the chest.
On June 16, 2013, Smith and several other members of his gang drove to a home in Central Islip, where they confronted another member of the Bloods about his role in a previous shooting. During that confrontation, Smith admitted to displaying a weapon and pointing it at his intended victim.
Donoghue said that a bystander restrained Smith, noting that there were women and children around, at which point Smith ordered a fellow Bloods member to shoot his victim instead. Both shooting victims survived.
“Michael Smith plagued Suffolk County with his distribution of this deadly drug to fellow dealers, gang members, and addicts,” FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William Sweeney, Jr. said. “As if drug dealing wasn’t enough of a threat to the community, Smith then compounded this with his violent activity; involving himself in multiple shootings. Today’s sentencing not only brings Smith to justice, but also helps keep our community safe.”
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