SYRACUSE -- A Syracuse teenager has pleaded guilty to assaulting two men during what prosecutors say was an initiation ritual for the Bloods street gang that left both victims with serious injuries.
The Citizen of Auburn reports that 17-year-old Drequan Thomas pleaded guilty Tuesday in Cayuga County Court to assault and robbery charges in exchange for an eight-year sentence.
Prosecutors say Thomas traveled from Syracuse to Auburn on Oct. 1 with his 15-year-old cousin as part of a hazing ritual to gain membership in the Bloods.
Police say the two teens randomly attacked two men walking on different Auburn streets, West Genesee Street and Owasco Street, knocking them down and stomping on the victims. Thomas admitted in court that he stomped on the victims' faces while wearing boots.
Police say the first victim didn’t have any valuable property on him at the time but Thomas and the other perpetrator stole and iPhone and other valuables from the second victim.
Both victims were treated at Upstate Hospital. One of the men suffered a broken hip, while the other had to have his face reconstructed with metal plates and screws.
At the time Thomas committed the crimes, police say he was awaiting a sentence on a robbery conviction from Westchester County. He pled guilty to attaching a teacher and stealing the teacher’s phone at a juvenile facility.
Thomas will be sentenced to 8 years in prison plus 5 years’ additional post-release supervision on November 20.
Police say the second perpetrator, also 15-years-old, remains under investigation.
(Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.)
