Alleged 'godfather' of Long Island Bloods back to face new charges
Latique Johnson, the alleged leader of the Long Island faction of the Bloods street gang, in a Riverhead courtroom Thursday on multiple conspiracy charges. Credit: Newsday
The “godfather” of the Long Island faction of the Bloods street gang organized a campaign of violence, from armed robberies to killings, all from federal prison as part of a plan to establish his crew's “geographic dominance” in Nassau and Suffolk counties, prosecutors said Thursday as they announced new charges against him.
Latique Johnson, 44, formerly of the Bronx and the alleged founder of the Bloodhound Brims gang, was extradited to Long Island from prison in Victorville, California, where he's serving a 30-year sentence after being convicted in 2019 of federal racketeering conspiracy, attempted murder, and firearms and narcotics charges.
On Thursday, Johnson, also known as “La Brim,” was arraigned in Suffolk County Criminal Court in Riverhead on one count of second-degree conspiracy and two counts of fourth-degree conspiracy. Johnson faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
The new charges come after prosecutors in February announced a 103-count indictment against 31 alleged Bloodhound Brims members, including Johnson, after a yearslong campaign of vengeance from Hempstead to Hampton Bays that included the killing of an elementary school teacher. Most of the group's activity, officials said, centered in Bay Shore, Coram, Mastic and Riverhead.
Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney William Richards said in court Thursday that Johnson “set out to commit geographic dominance on Long Island” as part of a scheme to make the Bloodhound Brims “the most violent and respected street gang in the country.”
Johnson allegedly ordered his Long Island lieutenants to commit robberies and sell narcotics, with at least $31,000 worth of proceeds from those crimes being deposited into the defendant's prison commissary account, prosecutors said.
Jason Bassett, Johnson's Central Islip-based defense attorney, said there was “no proof” that the crimes identified in the indictment, which all occurred while his client was in prison, were ordered by the defendant or that the commissary deposits were part of a criminal conspiracy.
Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony S. Senft Jr. ordered Johnson held on $5 million bail or $10 million bond, though he conceded that bail is “moot” as the defendant is already incarcerated.
Johnson has three prior felony convictions: first-degree manslaughter, second-degree attempted murder and promoting prisoner contraband.
The violence laid out in the February indictment, investigators said, included 18 shootings, three armed robberies, the recovery of 12 loaded handguns and the mistaken-identity murder of Kimberly Collins Midgette, 44, a Bronx teacher killed while dropping off her 10-year-old daughter at the girl's father’s house in Hempstead in April 2023.
The killing took place while the girl was in the back seat of the vehicle, which the shooters believed to be that of a rival gang member.
Much of the violence, prosecutors said, was sparked by the August 2021 killing of Alonte Shipp, a member of Long Island’s “Afghan” set of the Bloodhound Brims.
Days after Shipp's killing, Long Island Brims members met to plan revenge, according to the indictment, with several shooting up the North Amityville house of a rival gang member they suspected of being behind the death.
Richards, the prosecutor, said Johnson served as the “capstone” in the gang's “pyramid” hierarchy, directing their day-to-day activities from prison, including approving or disapproving new members and directing the payment of “donations” to himself as a requirement for membership in the Bloodhounds.
The more than two-year multiagency investigation included more than 100 search warrants into homes, vehicles and digital sources belonging to Bloodhounds members, records show.
Among the items recovered, police said, were the Bloodhound “Commandments,” in which members pledge to kill and commit other crimes to support the group. The fifth commandment states: “death to all those who go against the hounds,” charging documents show.
Prosecutors said Johnson implemented a strict performance plan for gang members. Those who committed violence, particularly at others who disrespected the group, were promoted; members who refused to comply were thrown out of the gang, authorities said.
Johnson is due back in court May 16.
Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.
