Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., and New York City Police Department Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell today announced the indictment of KENWOOD ALLEN, 33, for causing the fatal drug overdoses of two individuals in a series of Lower East Side robberies. ALLEN is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with two counts of Murder in the Second Degree; three counts of Robbery in the First Degree; two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree; one count of Robbery in the Second Degree; and two counts of Assault in the Second Degree.[1]
“Nobody should have to worry that a night out at a Manhattan bar with friends could end in tragedy. This murder indictment is the result of a long-term and ongoing investigation with our law enforcement partners to keep our city safe. We are continuing to aggressively uncover all of the facts in this case and are in touch with community leaders and elected officials,” said District Attorney Bragg.
“Today’s indictment is one component of an extensive, long-term investigation with a singular goal: keeping people in our city safe,” said NYPD Commissioner Sewell. “This defendant’s callous disregard for human life will not go unpunished, and the NYPD will hold accountable anyone who threatens the safety and well-being of our community. I thank and commend the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and everyone involved in this case for their exceptional work.”
According to court documents and statements made on the record, ALLEN is connected to five different incidents from March to October 2022. ALLEN drugged his victims with fentanyl after they spent evenings out in bars then robbed them of their phones, credit cards or watches. In some instances, ALLEN left his victims on the street after they had overdosed.
Two of his victims subsequently died from their overdoses, one following a March 18, 2022, incident, and the other after a July 30, 2022, incident.
The District Attorney’s investigation into these incidents, and others, remains ongoing.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant D.A.s Brian Rodkey, Patrick Nelligan, Taylor Holland, David Drucker, Nicole Hoehle and Charles Whitt (Chief of Trial Bureau 60) under the supervision of Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division).
D.A. Bragg thanked the NYPD, including Detective Scott Williams.
Defendant Information:
KENWOOD ALLEN
New York, New York
Charged:
- Murder in the Second Degree, a class A-I felony, two counts
- Robbery in the First Degree, a class B felony, three counts
- Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a class B felony, two counts
- Robbery in the Second Degree, a class C felony, one count
- Assault in the Second Degree, a class E felony, two counts
[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.
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