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Lawrence Lewis, also known as “L Boogs,” age 38, of Claverton, was convicted Tuesday, Nov. 9, for the 2017 murder of John Birt, the forcible rape and sex trafficking of a Suffolk County woman, racketeering, multiple firearms offenses, narcotics possession and distribution, and witness tampering, according to the US Attorney's Office.
As proven at trial, between April 2004 and June 2019, Lewis, as a member of the Bloods street gang, distributed large quantities of cocaine base and heroin in Suffolk County, the Attorney's Office said.
In order to protect his supply of narcotics, and secure his ability to distribute his narcotics, Lewis possessed a number of firearms, including an AR-15 assault rifle, a pistol-grip 12-gauge shotgun, a Mossberg .22 caliber rifle, and a Ruger .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, the complaint said.
Lewis also engaged in acts of extreme violence on behalf of the Bloods gang. For example, in 2014, as retaliation for the theft of guns, Lewis forced a woman into engaging in prostitution until she repaid her debt to him, the US Attorney's Office said.
During the same period of time, Lewis forcibly raped the woman, according to the complaint, which also stated:
- On July 29, 2017, Lewis shot and killed John Birt, a member of the Crips gang, at the Illusions Gentlemen’s Club in Deer Park.
- While Birt and several friends posed for pictures inside the club, Lewis and a fellow Bloods gang member approached the group. Lewis’ associate attempted to display a Bloods hand signal and Birt began arguing with Lewis, who then shot and killed him.
- Later, Lewis texted a number of close acquaintances about the murder, stating that he was “sleeping good” and would “do it again.”
- Prior to the trial, Lewis and others acting on his behalf made efforts to prevent witnesses from testifying against him, through the use of veiled and implicit threats of violence.
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