Earlier today in federal court in Brooklyn, Marcus Pittman, also known as “Nacho” and “Cheese,” pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm resulting in death during a kidnapping, robbery, and murder that took place on July 25, 2024. Pittman now faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and could receive up to life imprisonment. The plea was entered before United States District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto.
The announcement of the guilty plea was made by Joseph Nocella, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge at the FBI’s New York Field Office; and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department.
“Today, the defendant pleaded guilty to an execution-style, drug-related killing carried out in the rear of a U-Haul van in brutal fashion,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Marcus Pittman was the trigger man of this robbery crew that traveled to our District for the purpose of kidnapping and robbing marijuana dealers. I commend our excellent prosecutors, the FBI Special Agents, and NYPD detectives whose outstanding work has brought all six defendants to justice for their brutal crimes.”
“With five other defendants, Marcus Pittman orchestrated a kidnapping and armed robbery of two local marijuana dealers before executing a restrained captive in the back of a U-Haul,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia. “Pittman demonstrated an utter disregard for human life by shooting a defenseless rival in cold blood. May today’s plea send a message that the FBI and our law enforcement partners will hold accountable anyone who travels to our city to wage unnecessary violence and death.”
Court filings show that during the night spanning July 24-25, 2024, Pittman and his co-defendants executed an armed robbery and kidnapping scheme targeting two drug dealers identified as John Doe #1 and John Doe #2 at a stash house in Queens. After entering under false pretenses with intent to purchase marijuana, co-defendants Jerome Waters and William Barnett drew weapons on both victims.
Pittman along with his brother Delonta Pittman joined them inside where they restrained both victims with zip ties before moving them into vehicles—a Jeep and a U-Haul van—and stealing approximately 30 pounds of marijuana from the location.
While driving through Queens at gunpoint demanding drugs and money from their captives, Jalon Garrett held John Doe #2 at gunpoint while Marcus Pittman did so with John Doe #1 inside the U-Haul van driven by Calvin Israel. Shortly after these events began unfolding, Pittman fatally shot John Doe #1 inside the vehicle’s rear compartment. The group then returned to Maryland. First responders later found John Doe #1’s body still bound by zip ties among bags of marijuana.
All five co-defendants—Barnett, Delonta Pittman, Waters, Garrett, and Israel—have previously pleaded guilty for their involvement; sentencing is pending.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which coordinates efforts between law enforcement agencies across multiple levels to address violent crime within communities through collaborative strategies aimed at reducing such incidents.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Chand Edwards-Balfour and Adam Amir from the International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section.
Defendant:
MARCUS PITTMAN (also known as “Nacho” and “Cheese”), age 30 from Baltimore
Co-defendants who have pleaded guilty:
DELONTA PITTMAN (“D Lo”), age 31
JEROME WATERS (“the Engineer”/“Rome”), age 23
CALVIN ISRAEL, age 23
WILLIAM BARNETT, age 27
JALON LENNY GARRETT, age 20
Case reference: E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-413 (S-2) (KAM)
