Neighborhood-plaguing shootings: 12 suspects indicted from Queens street gang
In the heart of Queens, New York, a notorious street gang known as the Floss Money Ballers has been terrorizing several areas in southeast Queens. The gang's activities reached a boiling point in 2024, marking the start of a violent gang war that shook the community.
The conflict began in September 2024, following the tragic shooting of 18-year-old Akim Cisse outside of Springfield Gardens. This incident ignited a bloody feud between the Floss Money Ballers and the Blitz Gang 4, setting the stage for a series of violent encounters.
On January 12, 2025, at 6:30 p.m., an incident occurred on 142nd Avenue in Springfield Gardens. Alleged members of the Floss Money Ballers, Kevson Hankey, Kevin Petit-Dieu, and Tahnell Williams, lured a rival marijuana dealer and opened fire, but he miraculously escaped unscathed. Nine shell casings were recovered at the scene, and eight of the accused Floss Money Ballers members were involved in at least two separate shootings.
In another incident on May 10, Floss Money Ballers member Larry Spencer allegedly opened fire outside the Baisley Park Houses in South Jamaica. The victim, a man, was struck in the back and left arm but managed to survive the attack. Surveillance video shows the victim collapsing to the ground and remaining motionless after the shooting.
The operation to take down this street gang, known as "Operation Buzzkill," resulted in the indictment of 12 alleged members of the Floss Money Ballers. Eight of the accused were apprehended during a police raid on Aug. 28, while the remaining four were already in prison for other crimes. Each of the six shooters faces up to 25 years in prison.
Police Commissioner Tisch stated that the Floss Money Ballers are involved in 10 separate acts of ruthless violence, attempted murders, reckless shootings, and gun possession charges. No innocent bystanders were reportedly struck by bullets during the gang war, but there were numerous shootings in the following weeks and months.
Despite the efforts of law enforcement, there is no information available about a gang rising in significance after a previous gang operation in 2023 or about members of the Floss Money Ballers arrested in the 2025 "Buzzkill" operation. However, it is clear that the operation has dealt a significant blow to the Floss Money Ballers, sending a strong message that others attempting to take over the streets of Queens will also find themselves behind bars.
City officials are hopeful that this operation will bring an end to the violence and restore peace to the affected communities in Queens. They urge anyone with information about gang activity to contact local law enforcement. As Commissioner Tisch said, "We will not tolerate the senseless violence that has plagued our streets. We are committed to making Queens a safer place for all its residents."
