Crime & Safety

DA: 2 Guilty in 'Rollin' 60s' Gang Case

First round of verdicts in 18-member gang bust, the largest in Nassau history, DA says.

Two men were found guilty and one went free in a trial surrounding the "largest gang bust in Nassau County history," announced the Nassau County District Attorney Wednesday.

Kwame Lake, 22, of Hempstead, and Derick Hernandez, 22, of Roosevelt, were found guilty on felony robbery charges and will face prison time, said the DA.

Prosecutors said the two, along with a third man, Kurtis Phillip, 22, of Uniondale, lured a Hempstead business owner to a residential street and robbed him. The three reportedly made off with the victim's wallet, ID, $1,000 in cash, and $2,000 worth of property in the Feb. 2013 incident.

Find out what's happening in Garden Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The three were among 18 arrests in what is reportedly the largest gang bust in Nassau County history. Lake and Hernandez are members of the Crip-affiliate gang, the "Rollin' 60s." The Crips have had  a presence in Roosevelt since 2001, the DA said. The duo were arrested in April after a year-long investigation by the DA, Nassau County Police Department, and FBI.

Lake faces up to 15 years behind bars for second-degree robbery. Hernandez could spend seven years behind bars for third-degree robbery.

Find out what's happening in Garden Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The jury deliberated on the charges for a day and a half, said the DA.

Phillip was found not guilty of robbery charges, but DA Kathleen Rice said while her office respects the jury's verdict, she will "continue the prosecution of other defendants."


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.