A thief whose crew drugged drunk Hell’s Kitchen clubgoers stated nothing as he was sentenced Thursday to eight years behind bars for the fiendish scheme that left two folks lifeless.
Andre Butts, 30, appeared solemn in Manhattan Supreme Court docket to be taught his destiny after he modified his story and fessed as much as theft and conspiracy prices for his half within the fentanyl-wielding crew that drugged victims to rob them blind.
Butts — who was not charged with homicide within the scheme — labored alongside Jayqwan Hamitlon, Robert DeMaio and Jacob Barroso, who have been discovered responsible at trial in February for mugging and drugging 5 completely different homosexual males, killing two.
“Andre Butts is now dealing with accountability for his function on this lethal and callous conspiracy,” Manhattan District Lawyer Alvin Bragg stated in an announcement. “He admitted to taking part in a number of robberies utilizing fentanyl-laced medicine to incapacitate victims, so he and his co-defendants might drain cash from their monetary accounts.”
Butts helped the trio goal victims outdoors The Q NYC, a homosexual nightclub that was positioned on West forty eighth Avenue and Eighth Avenue, the place they preyed on clubgoers earlier than feeding them fentanyl-laced medicine with a purpose to rob them, prosecutors have stated.
The hefty Butts admitted to taking part in two robberies, together with a March 18, 2022 theft the place he took the sufferer again to a resort in Union Sq. — then drugged him till he misplaced consciousness.
The crew have been seen pushing the sufferer’s limp physique on a baggage cart to convey him again to his resort room — earlier than they took his telephone and made fast unauthorized cost transfers utilizing Apple Money and Money App.
Lower than a month later, Butts and Shane Hoskins, one other member awaiting sentencing for his function within the scheme, tagged together with Hamilton and Barroso to focus on one other sufferer outdoors the identical night time membership.
They introduced the person again to his Decrease East Facet condominium and drugged him, then robbed him of his cellphone and bank cards, in line with court docket papers.
When the sufferer wakened, he noticed purchases made utilizing his cash at Prada and Bloomingdale’s, prosecutors have stated.
Manhattan Assistant DA Emily Ching informed the choose that Butts had initially denied his guilt in a probation report, telling officers that he was “responsible by affiliation, on the mistaken place on the mistaken time with associates.”
However Butts shortly admitted his guilt when pressed by Choose Felicia Mennin. At his sentencing, he was slapped with 5 years post-release supervision along with his jail time period.
Butts is the primary member of the crew to be sentenced for the spree, which left marketing consultant John Umberger and Brooklyn social employee Julio Ramirez lifeless.
Hoskins is anticipated to be sentenced to eight years in jail subsequent month after pleading responsible to theft.
Hamilton, DeMario and Barroso are set to be sentenced on Might 21.
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