NYC Gazette

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the conviction of Ricardo Ferguson, also known as "Maybach," for the December 5, 2021 murder of Robert Brown, Sr. inside the Aqueduct Park walkway in the University Heights neighborhood of the Bronx. Ferguson shot Brown in the head and attempted to steal crack cocaine and money from Brown’s pockets during a dispute over drug sales. The defendant was found guilty following a six-day trial before U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams stated: “Ricardo Ferguson murdered Robert Brown, Sr. by shooting him in the head in the middle of a New York City park in broad daylight. Today’s conviction sends an important message to drug dealers who commit violent crimes that they will be apprehended and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”

According to allegations in the indictment and evidence at trial:

Ferguson and others participated in a conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine near Aqueduct Park walkway in University Heights. In the months leading up to the murder, Ferguson and his co-conspirators threatened Robert Brown, Sr., because Brown had been selling bags containing larger quantities of crack cocaine than other dealers in the park. On December 5, 2021, Ferguson and a co-conspirator attacked and attempted to rob Brown at Aqueduct Park walkway. During this attempted robbery, Ferguson pulled out a gun and shot Brown in the head. Brown was 63 years old at the time.

Ferguson, 38, of Bronx, New York, was convicted today of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine (maximum sentence: 20 years), attempted Hobbs Act robbery (maximum sentence: 20 years), murder through use of a firearm (maximum sentence: life imprisonment), and using/carrying a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking (mandatory minimum sentence: 10 years; maximum sentence: life imprisonment).

The statutory minimum and maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress for informational purposes only; any sentencing will be determined by Judge Berman on October 9, 2024.

Mr. Williams praised investigative work by NYPD, Special Agents and NYPD Task Force Officers from Special Investigations Division assigned to Southern District of New York, and analysts from New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.

The case is being handled by Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dominic Gentile, Jun Xiang, Mathew Andrews, Peter Davis leading prosecution efforts alongside Paralegal Specialist Ananya Sankar.