In a serious display of justice against gang intimidation, two members of the Mac Ballers gang face stern charges for their attempt to silence a witness in a federal criminal trial. Tyshawn Palmer and Hassan Brown were arrested and charged with witness tampering and retaliation after threatening to murder the child of a witness who testified against their associate, Lamar Williams, during his recent trial for racketeering and murder.
Arrested on the morning of February 18, both men stand accused of using social media as a means to terrorize, with posts unearthed that exposed a young child to deadly threats in an egregious attempt to obstruct justice. The chilling revelations come following a trial that saw Williams convicted on all counts, a victory for lawful order which Palmer and Brown sought to undermine with fear, as the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York disclosed.
Fighting back against this affront, U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton took a strong stance, affirming "witness intimidation will not work—rather, it will be met with swift justice," according to a statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch reiterated this sentiment, condemning any attempt to influence justice and vowing continued efforts to safeguard the integrity of the judicial system.
As alleged in the indictment, the two gang members not only threatened the witness but took the egregious step of bringing an innocent child into their crosshairs, posting photos and names on Instagram, directly calling the witness a "rat" and a "snitch." Ricky J. Patel, the U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of New York, stressed his agency's longstanding commitment to protecting the federal judicial process since 1789, now a responsibility that Palmer and Brown's actions have rendered into immediate relevance once more.
Should the court find Palmer, 32, and Brown, 34, guilty, they could face life in prison — a heavy price for their alleged attempt to intimidate. The charges serve as a reminder that the rule of law prevails, and, as commendations follow for the cooperative efforts of the United States Marshals Service, NYPD, and the U.S. Attorney's Office, the message is clear: justice will be served against threats to witnesses and their families.
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