Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. today announced the indictment of MICHAEL DAVID, 22, DERRICK FLEMING, 25, and JALEN ROBERTSON, 21, for committing a series of armed robberies at smoke shops across Manhattan. DAVID is charged with four counts of Robbery in the First Degree and three counts of Robbery in the Second Degree. ROBERTSON is charged with two counts of Robbery in the First Degree and two counts of Robbery in the Second Degree. FLEMING is charged with one count of Robbery in the First Degree and one count of Robbery in the Second Degree.^[1]

“As alleged, these defendants robbed several Manhattan smoke shops and threatened the lives of hardworking store clerks,” said District Attorney Bragg. “We will continue to stand up for the safety of our workers and will not allow smoke shops to become magnets for violent crime.”

According to court documents and statements made on the record, the defendants – all of whom are members of the “Mac Baller Brims,” a subset of the “Bloods” – committed four armed robberies between December 29, 2022, and January 13, 2023. The stores were in the Chelsea, Union Square, and West Village neighborhoods.

Typically, DAVID and one of the other defendants would enter a smoke shop, display a firearm and threaten a store clerk before stealing cash and merchandise, and flee in a getaway vehicle.

On December 29, 2022, at approximately 10:49 p.m., DAVID entered the Seventh Avenue Smoke Shop at 200 Seventh Avenue. He went to the area behind the cashier counter, displayed a pistol and took cash and merchandise.

On January 7, 2023, at approximately 4:45 p.m., DAVID and ROBERTSON entered Puffy’s Smoke Shop on 177 Third Avenue. ROBERTSON stood at the door as a lookout, while DAVID went behind the cashier counter and threatened the clerk. The defendants stole merchandise and escaped in a getaway vehicle.

On January 11, 2023, at approximately 1:00 p.m., DAVID and FLEMING entered Grab and Go Smoke Shop at 378 Sixth Avenue. DAVID acted as the lookout while FLEMING displayed a firearm. They threatened to shoot the clerk, stole cash and merchandise, and fled in a getaway vehicle.

On January 13, 2023, at approximately 8:06 p.m., DAVID and ROBERTSON entered 37 Convenience Store at 37 Seventh Avenue. ROBERTSON acted as a lookout, while DAVID went behind the cashier counter and brandished a pistol. He demanded that the store clerk lay on the ground as he stole cash and merchandise.

The D.A.’s Office’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Unit is handling the prosecution of this case, under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Christopher Prevost (Chief of the Violent Criminal Enterprises Unit) and Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Investigative Analyst Henry Newton assisted with the case.

D.A. Bragg thanked the detectives and supervisors of the NYPD’s Manhattan Robbery Squad, especially Detectives Joseph Gallagher, Inspector Nicholas Fiore, and Chief of Detectives James Essig.

Defendant Information:
MICHAEL DAVID
Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

• Robbery in the First Degree, a class B felony, four counts
• Robbery in the Second Degree, a class C felony, three counts

DERRICK FLEMING
Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

• Robbery in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count
• Robbery in the Second Degree, a class C felony, one count

JALEN ROBERTSON
Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

• Robbery in the First Degree, a class B felony, two counts
• Robbery in the Second Degree, a class C felony, two counts

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^[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.