By Philip Newman
The reputed co-leader and members of a notorious Queens street gang have been arraigned on charges in connection with what authorities said was an attempt to scare a witness out of showing up before a grand jury.
“These five individuals attempted to manipulate the legal process, but instead they found out there is no place in the criminal justice system for those who intimidate a witness to a crime,” said District Attorney Richard Brown.
Brown identified the defendants, all members of the EBK — Every Body Killers — gang as:
• Kamal Joseph, 20, a gang leader, of Benson Avenue in Elmont, L.I., charged with intimidating a victim or witness and tampering with a witness and conspiracy,
• Angel Alvarez, 21, of 164th St. in Jamaica, charged with bribing a witness, intimidating a victim or witness and conspiracy,
• Nadine Massillon, 24, of 171st St. in Jamaica, charged with intimidating a victim or witness, tampering with a witness, conspiracy and aggravated harassment
• Christopher Baptiste, 19, of 214th St. in Queens Village, charged with intimidating a victim or witness, tampering with a witness and conspiracy
• Brandon Ward, 21, of Woodhall Ave. in Jamaica, charged with intimidating a witness or victim, tampering with a witness and conspiracy.
Joseph was charged Oct. 18 with second-degree attempted murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon for allegedly pointing a handgun at a person known to the DA’s office and the NYPD on the night of Aug. 3, 2013, and firing several rounds.
Joseph was arraigned on the charges in Queens Criminal Court Oct. 18, 2013, with the case scheduled to go before the grand jury.
Brown said Joseph told Baptiste on the telephone that the witness in his attempted murder cases should not show up before the grand jury hearing the case Oct. 23 and it was alleged that Ward, Baptiste, Alvarez and other people gathered outside Queens Criminal Court House in Kew Gardens in an effort to intimidate the witness from testifying before the grand jury.
The DA also alleged that Massillon tampered with and intimidated the witness on three occasions in November and December by attempting to compel the witness not to appear at the grand jury.
Alvarez is accused of trying to bribe the witness Nov. 21 in an attempt to get him to stay away from the courthouse.
Reach contributing writer Philip Newman by e-mail at timesledgernews@cnglocal.com or phone at 718-260-4536.
