The Post has uncovered that a notorious gang member who was let off the hook for many offenses by the Manhattan DA’s Office used his second chance to rob a 14-year-old boy and pack a gun on a playground.
Charles Lindsay, the alleged gun-wielding robber, is finally behind bars on the additional charges, but not owing to the enlightened Manhattan office, which refused on Friday to clarify whether it will try to void the previous plea bargain it negotiated with the defendant.
Lindsay, 22 years old, was charged with four felony counts of grand larceny in December for allegedly helping to steal $25,000 in handbags and other luxury items from Madison Avenue boutiques during a string of robberies. Lindsay is an alleged member of the “Rich Fam” gang, which has been linked to several high-end heists.
In lieu of prosecuting the case, however, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg agreed to release the suspect if he completed five sessions with Manhattan Justice Opportunities, an offender diversion program.
Charles Lindsay allegedly exploited his second chance to rob a 14-year-old boy and conceal a firearm on a playground.
According to a law enforcement source, the DA’s office explained to the police that it came up with the absurd proposal because it needed to clear its crowded schedule.
At the time, Lindsay had at least eight prior offenses, including for robbery.
The criminal complaint states that Lindsay and three others approached a 14-year-old child on Bedford-Fulton Stuyvesant’s Street on January 24 and beat him in the face before stealing his cash and iPhone.
According to law-enforcement officials and the complaint, Lindsay was identified as a suspect in the robbery and was sighted in St. Andrew’s Park on February 15 by vigilant officers who recognized him from a photo the department had distributed of him in the case.
According to police in the complaint, the officers attempted to stop Lindsay, but he escaped, dropping a loaded weapon as he crossed the park’s gate, despite their efforts.
The suspect entered the subway station at Kingston and Fulton, jumped onto the tracks, and escaped on foot into the underground. According to police sources, officers were waiting for him at the next stop at Utica and Fulton, when he was handcuffed.
As ordered by the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, Lindsay was arraigned Thursday evening on firearms charges and placed on bail of $100,000.
A representative for the Manhattan district attorney refused to answer questions on Lindsay’s prior plea agreement and if the new charges would revive the grand theft cases against him.
According to law enforcement officials, Lindsay has not yet attended a single diversion program session.
The spokesman for the Manhattan district attorney’s office stated, “We are unable to comment as the matter is still pending and under investigation.”
Jake Salinas, a 27-year-old store clerk at Zadig & Voltaire, one of Lindsay’s accused grand-larceny targets, was stunned to learn of the suspect’s no-jail plea offer.
“He’s not paying for what he’s done, and that’s a lot of money…. Salinas referred to the plea agreement as a “slap on the wrist.” That demonstrates to anybody who hears his account that nothing should be done.
Salinas, who was employed at the time of the robbery, told The Post that two individuals wearing ski masks scouted the location while the others waited outside.
“As they reached the store’s rear, four additional men approached the entrance. One man remained outside. “There were about seven of them,” the employee stated.
According to Salinas, the robbers stole luxury products from the front of the store and fled, with one of them yelling “Don’t touch me!” before fleeing.
Former Bronx Deputy District Attorney and criminal defense attorney Michael Discioarro criticized Bragg’s office to The Post, asking, “What precisely is he working on?
“When will he execute New York’s laws? Who deserves prosecution at this point?” asked the former prosecutor.
“The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office is not a social worker. He has 300 attorneys tasked with upholding the law, and he has failed.”
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