Prosecutors unveiled a 57-count indictment against 18 alleged Riverhead gang members and associates calling themselves the “48 Gang,” tied to a multi-agency investigation.

The indictment stems from a five-month grand jury presentation and charges two murders, eight armed robberies, five additional shootings, and possession of 13 illegal weapons, with conspiracy to possess weapons and to murder also alleged.

Authorities say the charges reflect a pattern of violence used to establish territorial dominance, funded by robberies, firearms sales, narcotics trafficking, and related fraud.

Several defendants face non-bail-eligible charges, resulting in GPS monitoring or supervised release at arraignment, with many in custody or due back in court in April 2026.

Law enforcement stressed interagency cooperation across local, state, and federal partners on Long Island and nationwide to dismantle the gang and remove illegal weapons.

Defendants are linked to a violent street organization centered around Riverhead areas like Oakland Drive’s “4 Block” and Doctors Path Apartments, with ties to the Bloodhound Brims and Mak Balla Family.

Braunskill, accused of conspiring to possess weapons and coordinating gun sales, allegedly forged checks and later joined the Mount Vernon Police Department as a detective in late 2022.

Braunskill is also alleged to have shared illegal weapons with gang members, with conduct dating through December 2022 before his police appointment.

Notable incidents cited include a June 23, 2021 shooting in Aquebogue and a October 26, 2021 armed robbery turned fatal, as well as shootings in Bellport (Sept. 2022), Main Street (Jan. 2023), and multiple robberies in 2023–2024, including 7-Eleven holdups and a deli robbery in September 2024.

Key defendants face charges ranging from Second Degree Murder and Attempted Murder to Robbery and Conspiracy, with others charged on weapons and related counts.

The legal process spans charges and incidents between 2021 and 2025, as outlined by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office.