Brooklyn rapper Sheff G, whose legal name is Michael Williams, has agreed to plead guilty to charges of attempted murder and conspiracy in a deal that will lead to a five-year prison sentence. The announcement came from Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, detailing that Williams is among 32 individuals tied to the 8 Trey Crips and its affiliate, the 9 Ways gang, implicated in a wide-ranging indictment. These allegations include their involvement in shootings, illegal gun possession, and utilizing stolen vehicles in violent acts against rival gangs, as detailed by the Brooklyn DA's office.
The deal, which stands in stark contrast to the 20-year sentence initially proposed by prosecutors, was accepted today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun. Williams is expected to also undergo five years of post-release supervision. This sentence stems from an extensive investigation by both the District Attorney's Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau and the NYPD's Gun Violence Suppression Division, focusing on the activities predominantly in the 67th and 71st Precincts of Brooklyn. In a statement obtained by the Brooklyn DA's office, Gonzalez said, “Notoriety could not shield this defendant from justice. He used his fame to fund and direct violence, terrorizing our streets, and though we sought a much longer sentence, he will now be held to account. Brooklyn will not tolerate gangs that endanger our communities, and we remain committed to dismantling these criminal networks and holding those responsible fully accountable.”
Of the defendants named in the indictment, 17 have already pleaded guilty, with cases against the remaining individuals such as Tegan Chambers, known as Sleepy Hollow, still pending. Surveillance footage and other evidence reportedly capture numerous violent incidents, with the defendants also accused of openly boasting about their crimes on social through platforms like social media and in text messages.
An especially heinous act charged in the indictment was the mass shooting on Hawthorne Street in 2020, which resulted in the death of 23-year-old Theodore Senior and the injury of five others. Williams was not only part of the conspiracy leading to this and other incidents but also appeared to actively coordinate violent acts. The District Attorney's office alleges that he even drove shooters to a crime scene before acting as their getaway driver. Celebratory actions followed these incidents, including a lavish dinner to toast the death and injuries inflicted, which appears to showcase an egregious level of disregard for the value of human life. Williams has moreover been accused of utilizing his music career's earnings to finance this streak of gun violence within Brooklyn neighborhoods, accounting for some of the bail bonds set against him, as reported by the Brooklyn DA's office.
The case is being prosecuted by the team from the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, with Senior Assistant District Attorney Sapna Kishnani taking point, as thanked by the District Attorney in his statement. Sentencing for Williams has been scheduled for August 13.
