Evergreen Reporter

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Semaj Smith, also known as “Bam Bam” and “Real Ryte Sport,” a member of the Brooklyn-based street gang Real Ryte, was sentenced by United States District Judge Hector Gonzalez to 132 months in prison for racketeering conspiracy and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Last month, co-defendants Dajahn McBean, also known as “Jeezy Mula,” who is the leader of Real Ryte, and Real Ryte member Mark Waiters, also known as “Telly,” were sentenced to terms of imprisonment of 150 months and 149 months, respectively. All three defendants pleaded guilty in September and October 2023 to charges in a superseding indictment stemming from Real Ryte’s gang war with the Breadgang crew of the 5-9 Brims, a subset of the Bloods.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge at the Federal Bureau of Investigation's New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentences.

“The defendants have dedicated themselves to committing violent crimes on behalf of their gang without any regard for endangering the public,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “We will not tolerate our communities being turned into scenes out of video games with gang warfare, reckless shootings and car chases. Today’s sentence shows that individuals like these defendants who don’t get that message will be punished with significant time in prison.”

Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to the New York City Police Department and to the Department of Homeland Security's Homeland Security Investigations New York for their outstanding work and assistance in this investigation.

According to court filings and facts presented during the defendants’ guilty plea proceedings, Real Ryte was a violent street gang that operated primarily in Brooklyn, New York. Members of Real Ryte committed acts involving murder and assault and engaged in bank fraud, wire fraud, among other crimes. Between at least 2015 and 2018, members committed serious crimes to further the interests of the gang by earning money through illicit means and enhancing their position relative to rival criminal organizations.

During this period, Real Ryte was engaged in conflict with members of a rival crew known as "Breadgang," which also operated in Brooklyn. The gang war led to several shootings between Real Ryte and Breadgang members. Notably, Sean Peart—a member of Real Ryte—was murdered by Marvin Pippins from Breadgang. Following Peart’s death, members of Real Ryte retaliated against Pippins and other Breadgang members.

On January 3, 2017, under McBean’s direction, Smith, Waiters along with a co-conspirator attempted to locate a Breadgang member in lower Manhattan intending to shoot him. During a vehicle chase through Manhattan streets driving against traffic flow directions resulted instead mistakenly shooting an innocent person they mistook for their target seriously injuring them before fleeing.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Joy Lurinsky and Rebecca Schuman are leading prosecution efforts with support from Paralegal Specialists Cleon Thomas & Abiodun Ojo.

The Defendants:

DAJAHN MCBEAN (also known as “Jeezy Mula”)

Age: 28

Brooklyn New York

MARK WAITERS (also known as “Telly”)

Age: 26

Brooklyn New York

SEMAJ SMITH (also known as “Bam Bam” & “Real Ryte Sport”)

Age: 30

Brooklyn New York

E.D.N.Y Docket No.:20-CR-260(S-1)(HG)