Bloods Gang Member Convicted at Trial for Violent and Extortionate Takeover of The New York City Fire Mitigation Industry

www.Justice.gov,  Press Release, February 15, 2024

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the conviction of JATIEK SMITH, a/k/a “Tiek,” of racketeering and extortion conspiracies.  The verdict was issued yesterday following a two-week bench trial before U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff in December 2023. 

According to the Indictment, statements made in public court proceedings and filings, and the evidence at trial:

The fire restoration industry refers to the businesses that repair properties that have suffered damage from fires or exposures to fires.  Within this industry, fire restoration companies (sometimes referred to as emergency mitigation services (“EMS”) companies) provide emergency mitigation services, demolition, and construction services to properties that have suffered such damages.  First Response Cleaning Corp. (“First Response”) was one such EMS company.

In 2019, JATIEK SMITH joined First Response and quickly assumed control over its operations.  SMITH, a member of the Bloods, a violent street gang, recruited other gang members and associates to join him at First Response.  As the leader of this crew, SMITH and his associates used violence, threats of violence, and extortion to terrorize and dominate the fire restoration industry in New York City. Continue Press Release