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Farmingville resident Taheem Smith - also known as “Ta” - was arraigned in Central Islip federal court on an 11-count indictment charging him with racketeering, murders in aid of racketeering of David Arzu and Janelle Curella, robbery, weapons charges, and drug possession and distribution.
It is alleged that on Sept. 2, 2016, Arzu, Curella, and two others were walking toward the Long Island Railroad Station in Bay Shore, at which point Smith and a co-conspirator approached them with weapons, demanding money and valuables.
Donoghue said that during the struggle, Arzu and Curella were shot, and died a short time later.
“As alleged, the defendant murdered an innocent man and woman to increase and maintain his own standing in the ruthless Bloods street gang,” Donoghue said in a statement. “This Office and our law enforcement partners will continue working unrelentingly to end the violent careers of gang members like Smith and decimate gangs like the Bloods to which they belong.”
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William Sweeney added, “violent gangs believe they can act with impunity, as if their actions don’t impact innocent people. Mr. Smith allegedly killed two people just to rob them. No amount of money is worth a human life.”
Donoghue noted that “the case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
“The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.”
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