Recording Artist Kintea McKenzie Pleads Guilty In Connection With 2018 Shooting In Times Square
Kintea McKenzie, a 21-year-old recording artist known as 'Kooda B,' pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering for organizing a 2018 shooting in Times Square at the behest of Tekashi 6ix 9ine to intimidate a rival gang member, facing up to 20 years in prison.
Kintea McKenzie pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering for orchestrating a June 2, 2018, shooting outside a Times Square hotel on behalf of the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods. He accepted payment from rapper Tekashi 6ix 9ine to target a rival gang member, part of the gang’s broader pattern of violence to protect narcotics operations and enhance its reputation. McKenzie faces a maximum sentence of 20 years, with sentencing to be determined by Judge Paul A. Engelmayer, after a joint investigation by NYPD, HSI, ATF, and the New York County District Attorney’s Office.
Kintea McKenzie, a 21-year-old recording artist known as 'Kooda B,' pled guilty in Manhattan federal court to assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering for his role in a June 2, 2018, shooting outside a hotel in Times Square. The attack was arranged at the behest of rapper Tekashi 6ix 9ine, who paid McKenzie to target a rival gang member in an effort to intimidate and assert dominance for the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods. This incident was part of the gang’s broader criminal enterprise, which included shootings, robberies, and assaults to protect its narcotics business and elevate its reputation. McKenzie helped organize the shooting to scare the rival, acting as a key operative in the gang’s violent activities. The case was investigated by the New York City Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the New York County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecuted by the Southern District of New York’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit, the case underscores the federal government’s focus on dismantling violent gang networks. McKenzie faces a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison, though his actual sentence will be determined by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer.
Extracted insights
- person Geoffrey S. Berman
- person kintea mckenzie
- Kintea McKenzie pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering
- Kintea McKenzie involved in shooting outside hotel in Times Square on June 2, 2018
- Kintea McKenzie agreed to accept money from Daniel Hernandez (Tekashi 6ix 9ine)
- Kintea McKenzie coordinated with Tekashi 6ix 9ine and other Nine Trey gang members
- Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods engaged in violence including shootings, robberies, and assaults in Manhattan and Brooklyn
- Geoffrey S. Berman announced guilty plea of Kintea McKenzie on June 3, 2019
- Paul A. Engelmayer accepted guilty plea of Kintea McKenzie
- Kintea McKenzie faces maximum sentence of 20 years in prison
- Kintea McKenzie is 21 years old from Brooklyn
Press Release Recording Artist Kintea McKenzie Pleads Guilty In Connection With 2018 Shooting In Times Square Monday, June 3, 2019 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that KINTEA MCKENZIE, a/k/a “Kooda B,” pled guilty today in Manhattan federal court in connection with a shooting outside a hotel in Times Square on June 2, 2018, in furtherance of the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods (“Nine Trey”) criminal enterprise. U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer accepted the defendant’s guilty plea. U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Today, Kintea McKenzie admitted his responsibility for a brazen shooting in bustling Times Square. In coordination with Tekashi 6ix 9ine and other Nine Trey gang members, McKenzie arranged to have another individual shoot at a rival gang member. We continue our daily work with our law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe and to vigorously investigate acts of violence committed by gang members.” As alleged in the Indictment and statements made in open court: Nine Trey was a criminal enterprise involved in committing numerous acts of violence, including shootings, robberies, and assaults in and around Manhattan and Brooklyn. Members and associates of Nine Trey engaged in violence to retaliate against rival gangs, to promote the standing and reputation of Nine Trey, and to protect the gang’s narcotics business. On or about June 2, 2018, MCKENZIE agreed to accept money from Daniel Hernandez, a/k/a “Tekashi 6ix 9ine,” to shoot at a rival gang member and rapper who was staying at a hotel in Times Square. MCKENZIE helped to organize the shooting in order to scare that rival gang member. * * * MCKENZIE, 21, of Brooklyn, pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by Judge Engelmayer. Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. He also thanked the New York County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance in the investigation. This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Longyear, Jacob Warren, Jonathan Rebold, and Sebastian Swett are in charge of the prosecution. Updated June 3, 2019 Topics Firearms Offenses Violent Crime Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 19-175
Press Release Recording Artist Kintea McKenzie Pleads Guilty In Connection With 2018 Shooting In Times Square Monday, June 3, 2019 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that KINTEA MCKENZIE, a/k/a “Kooda B,” pled guilty today in Manhattan federal court in connection with a shooting outside a hotel in Times Square on June 2, 2018, in furtherance of the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods (“Nine Trey”) criminal enterprise. U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer accepted the defendant’s guilty plea. U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Today, Kintea McKenzie admitted his responsibility for a brazen shooting in bustling Times Square. In coordination with Tekashi 6ix 9ine and other Nine Trey gang members, McKenzie arranged to have another individual shoot at a rival gang member. We continue our daily work with our law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe and to vigorously investigate acts of violence committed by gang members.” As alleged in the Indictment and statements made in open court: Nine Trey was a criminal enterprise involved in committing numerous acts of violence, including shootings, robberies, and assaults in and around Manhattan and Brooklyn. Members and associates of Nine Trey engaged in violence to retaliate against rival gangs, to promote the standing and reputation of Nine Trey, and to protect the gang’s narcotics business. On or about June 2, 2018, MCKENZIE agreed to accept money from Daniel Hernandez, a/k/a “Tekashi 6ix 9ine,” to shoot at a rival gang member and rapper who was staying at a hotel in Times Square. MCKENZIE helped to organize the shooting in order to scare that rival gang member. * * * MCKENZIE, 21, of Brooklyn, pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by Judge Engelmayer. Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. He also thanked the New York County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance in the investigation. This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Longyear, Jacob Warren, Jonathan Rebold, and Sebastian Swett are in charge of the prosecution. Updated June 3, 2019 Topics Firearms Offenses Violent Crime Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 19-175