Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the sentencing of STEVE DARBASIE, 44, to 6 months in jail, for intimidating and tampering with three individuals who either witnessed or had information about the fatal stabbing of Terrell Wigfall committed by DARBASIE’s son, Tammuz Darbasie. On June 10, 2024, DARBASIE was convicted by a New York State Supreme Court jury of three counts of Tampering with a Witness in the Third Degree and two counts of Intimidating a Victim or Witness in the Third Degree.

“Steve Darbasie waged a relentless campaign of intimidation, using social media as a sword to both punish witnesses for speaking with police and attempt to prevent them from testifying about his son’s crime,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Honest testimony is the bedrock of our criminal legal system and when witnesses are harassed and intimidated, our ability to hold accountable those who commit violent acts suffers. We will not tolerate any such attempts, as I hope this trial conviction makes clear. My thoughts are with the loved ones of Terrell Wigfall as they continue to mourn his loss.”

According to court record and statements made on the record in court, DARBASIE’s son, Tammuz Darbasie, fatally stabbed 24-year-old Terrell Wigfall in August 2020. Tammuz Darbasie pleaded guilty in April 2023 to Manslaughter in the First Degree for the stabbing.

In December 2022, when he believed his son’s case would soon go to trial, DARBASIE began to intimidate three of Mr. Wigfall’s friends, whom he believed had information about the stabbing. He created “Ratzzzz,” an anonymous Instagram account, to name and intimidate the three potential witnesses, calling them “snitches and rats.” He posted video clips he received from his son’s attorney depicting the three individuals speaking with police and identifying his son as the stabber.

Two days after he first began posting, two of the witnesses’ rear windshield was smashed while they sat inside a car. One of those witnesses later received a threatening text message calling her a rat. DARBASIE celebrated the intimidation of the witnesses to his son’s crime. His account remained active until he was arrested.

Assistant D.A.s Sarah Marquez and Paul Barker handled the prosecution of this case under the supervision of Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Analyst Mihir Sardesai, Trial Preparation Assistant Jessica Daniel, Investigators Stephanie Zeni, Justin Reid, and Haley Fitzpatrick; and former senior digital evidence analyst Sasha Hodson assisted with the investigation.

District Attorney Bragg thanked the NYPD, particularly Detective Michael Viana.

 

STEVE DARBASIE

New York, NY

Convicted:

• Tampering with a Witness in the Third Degree, a class E felony, 3 counts
• Intimidating a Victim or Witness in the Third Degree, a class E felony, 2 counts

Sentenced:

• 6 months in jail

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