Andre Butts, one of the men who participated in a drugging and robbery scheme of gay men that killed two people, was sentenced on Thursday to eight years in state prison.
Butts, 30, pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree robbery and one count of conspiracy as part of a deal with prosecutors. He was initially charged with robbery, grand larceny and identity theft.
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Three men were convicted of murder, robbery, and conspiracy last month, and two others pleaded to lesser charges.
The robbery scheme loomed over New York City’s gay community as the group preyed on Manhattan gay bars and nightclubs from March 2021 to June 2022.
A May 2022 NBC News report on the mysterious death of social worker Julio Ramirez, 25, brought the plot to light. The group targeted five men and drugged them with a fentanyl-laced cocktail.
Prosecutors said that when the men were incapacitated, the group would steal their phones and use facial recognition to drain their bank accounts before going on shopping sprees for themselves.
Ramirez was left to die in the back of a cab. Another man, 33-year-old John Umberger, was found dead in his apartment.
Surviving victims of the scheme testified at the murder trial earlier this year.
Prosecutors said Butts was seen on security video buying sneakers with Ramirez’s credit card, though he was not charged with his death. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said Thursday that Butts has been held accountable for his role in a “deadly and callous conspiracy.”
“While it is fortunate that the victims targeted by Mr. Butts survived, I know they are still suffering from the trauma of this incident and hope they can continue to heal,” Bragg said.
