BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Three men pleaded guilty to gang raping an 18-year-old woman on Buffalo’s East Side in 2014.
A release from the Erie County District Attorney’s Office says Daqwan Morris, a.k.a “Snook J with the AK”, 19, Shameek Young, a.k.a. “Face”, 18, and Paul Brown, a.k.a. “PaulOut”, 18, all pleaded guilty to a gang rape that also involved two other people. Dequan Rosenthal and Cornelius Caddele previously admitted to participating in the crimes.
Young, Brown, Rosenthal and Caddele say they are members of the “Grimmie Gang.”
Morris, a self-identified member of the “Zelmer Boys” gang, invited the rape victim to his house in the summer of 2014. Shortly after her arrival, the victim was overpowered, raped and sodomized by Morris and Rosenthal. Over four hours’ time, the five men charged in the rape kept the victim in a third floor attic and took turns raping and sodomizing her.
The District Attorney’s Office says portions of the crime were recorded and shared with others on social media. The phone used to record parts of the incident had been in the possession of a local attorney for many months. Extensive footage of the crimes found on the phone led to a major breakthrough in the case.
Acting District Attorney Michael Flaherty stated, “Rape is a crime of secrecy and cowardice. Thanks to the courage and strength of the victim, and a methodical and unrelenting police investigation, we succeeded in bringing all of the perpetrators to justice.”
Morris, Young and Brown are charged with violent sexual felonies related to the gang rape. Morris and Young could serve up to 40 years in prison. Brown could spend 25 years behind bars.
They will be sentenced on February 22.