Long Island Man Jailed for 27 Years in Fentanyl Death & Hamptons Gang Shooting
A Bloods gang member, Joshua Crowell, has been sentenced to 27 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl that led to a man's death and for gang-related shootings. The emotional testimony from the victim's father highlighted the profound grief and destruction caused by Crowell's drug trafficking and violence. This case underscores the devastating impact of fentanyl and gang activities on families and communities.
Joshua Crowell, a 32-year-old member of the Bloods street gang from Huntington, known as "Twiggy," has been sentenced to 27 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Gary Brown delivered the sentence in Central Islip following Crowell's guilty plea in October to charges of distributing fentanyl that resulted in a death, and assault in aid of racketeering.
The court heard heartbreaking testimony from the grief-stricken father of "John Doe #3," who died in 2022 from a fentanyl overdose after ingesting illicit drugs supplied by Crowell. The father recounted finding his son’s lifeless body leaning against a wall in his locked bedroom. He held his son until EMTs arrived, only to confirm there was nothing to be done. The father expressed a profound sense of emptiness and sadness, noting his son had struggled with addiction, seemingly overcoming it for months before a fatal setback.
Federal prosecutors detailed Crowell's involvement in a drug trafficking network that operated for years, distributing fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine. Beyond John Doe #3, two other individuals also overdosed after purchasing fentanyl from Crowell, though they fortunately recovered.
Crowell's crimes extended beyond drug distribution into violent gang activities. In March 2021, Crowell and two co-conspirators opened fire with an AK-47 assault weapon and other firearms into a party organized by a rival gang at a Southampton home, injuring three people. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Simmons emphasized the severity of the attack, stating the gunmen fired 50 rounds into the crowd, and it was a "sheer miracle" that mass casualties were avoided.
Two months prior to the Southampton incident, Crowell and other gang members had also shot at an unoccupied home where they believed rival gang members resided. Judge Brown remarked that these shootings demonstrated Crowell's "callous disregard for human life," highlighting the violent nature of his gang affiliation.
During his address to the court, Crowell, dressed in a tan prison uniform, expressed regret for his actions, stating, "I’m not a violent person. I made a bad decision." He claimed he did not intend for anyone to die and acknowledged that his actions had consequences far beyond what he understood at the time. Notably, he avoided looking at John Doe #3’s family as he spoke.
Crowell’s attorney, Glenn Obedin of Central Islip, argued for a 20-year sentence, emphasizing Crowell's acceptance of responsibility and his potential to become a contributing "member of society" upon release. Obedin also highlighted Crowell's positive character traits, including being a good parent, with nearly a dozen relatives and friends, including his small children, attending the hearing in support. Obedin stated that the long separation from his children was particularly painful for Crowell.
However, Assistant U.S. Attorney Simmons countered that Crowell was an avowed member of the Bloodhound Brims set of the Bloods and actively promoted his gang affiliation on social media. The profound impact of Crowell's actions on John Doe #3's family was reiterated by the father, sister, and brother, who testified that their family had been "destroyed" and affected in numerous ways by the tragic loss.
Following the sentencing, Obedin concluded that the entire situation was "just a tragedy for everyone involved," declining further comment from Crowell’s family and friends.