Thursday, October 1, 2026
One of the largest gang takedowns in Nassau County history occurred from Aug. 13 to Aug. 18, apprehending alleged members of the MS-13, 18th street and the Trinitaros street gangs.
County Executive Bruce Blakeman, County District Attorney Anne Donnelly and Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder highlighted the more thahn 40 arrests at police headquarters on Aug. 19.
“We had a very important sweeping pickup of people that were dangerous to our community and the whole region, not just Nassau County,” Blakeman said. “We want to send a clear message that gang activity in Nassau County will not be tolerated.
“We in Nassau County are grateful for the federal partnership that we have with ICE, FBI, DEA and other agencies,” he added. “As a result, we are a safer community.”
Undercover officers from NCPD worked with federal agencies, including Immigration Customs and Enforcement and the FBI, to apprehend the gang members on a variety of charges. The multi-jurisdictional law enforcement effort led an intensive multi-day search for gang members in the county.
“In total, we had 42 arrests over the four days,” Ryder said. “This is like playing Whack-a-Mole. You poke your head up, we're going to knock it back down.
“We promised in the beginning that we were going to go after the worst of the worst,” he noted. “You're looking at it on the screen, that is the worst of the worst — and we're not done yet.”
The team was formed quickly after a home invasion and shooting on Aug. 9, according to Ryder, which was followed by the stabbing that night, another shooting on Aug. 12, between MS-13 and 18th street gangs.
Among the incidents was an attack and attempted robbery in Hempstead’s Kennedy Park, where a young pedestrian was injured by a machete and chased for about 2 miles by four men involved with MS-13, Ryder said. The victim ran from Kennedy Park all the way to Roosevelt, where he made his escape.
Suspects are now being held in various jails and ICE detention facilities. Half of the suspects are alleged gang members.
“I am pleased to say that 33 of these offenders are in ICE custody without bond pending removal.” said ICE Field Office Director Bryan Flanagan. “ICE is working diligently to implement the administration's goals, to clear the backlog of illegal aliens to pose a threat to the security of our communities."
During the arrests, law enforcement took possession of hatchets, knives, machetes, a loaded firearm that were presented at the Tuesday news conference, as well as cameras and hand radios.
The charges against the alleged perpetrators include home invasion, attempted murder, sex trafficking, and other felonies, Blakeman said.
“These arrests are a testament to how committed we are in Nassau County to dismantling gangs and their toxic influence in our communities,” Donnelly said. “My office will continue to work closely with Commissioner Ryder and the police department to investigate, prosecute and take down criminal organizations that put families at risk.
“Thanks to the cooperation between agencies, the DA’s office was able to bring charges against 13 alleged MS-13 gang members connected with “brutal attacks” at the end of 2024, Donnelly added.
