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Kendall Newland, 25, of Mount Vernon, Kalvin Thwaites, 26, of Queens, and Andrew Burrell, 28, of the Bronx and all alleged members of the MacBallas street gang, have been charged with attempted murder for an assault attempt on an inmate inside a New York City Jail in June 2017.
US Attorney for the Southern District Geoffrey Berman said that “the MacBallas gang is a criminal enterprise that operates principally in and around the New York City area, including within city, state, and federal jails and prisons. Members and associates of the MacBallas engage in, among other things, narcotics trafficking, as well as acts of violence, to preserve and protect the power of the gang.”
On June 7, 2017, it is alleged that Thwaites, Burrell, and Newland, who were detained at the Vernon C. Bain Center in the Bronx assaulted an inmate with a dangerous weapon and attempted to murder the inmate to maintain or increase their standing within the street gang.
“As alleged in the Indictment, the defendants tried to kill a fellow inmate in order to promote their membership in the MacBallas street gang,” Berman said. “We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to end gang violence, wherever it occurs.”
The three men were each charged with one count of assault and attempted murder in aid of racketeering activity. If convicted, they will face up to 20 years in prison.
Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent-in-Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh added, “these MacBallas gang members were already serving time for their criminal acts when they tried to take the life of another inmate. When it comes to maintaining power and position, these individuals have little regard for human life. This is why law enforcement remains diligent in its gang enforcement both on and off the streets.”
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