DA: Gang member pleads guilty to violent home invasion in Shirley

An alleged member of the Bloods street gang pleaded guilty Thursday to his role in a violent home invasion in Shirley last year in which he pistol-whipped an autistic teenager, Suffolk prosecutors said.

Miguel Ruiz, 29, of Bellport, pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary and is expected to be sentenced next month by State Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei to 10 years in prison and five years post-release supervision. 

“The defendant took away this families' sense of security by entering their home and assaulting them while they were asleep,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney in a news release. “We want to make sure that no other family has to ever go through anything like this again by holding Mr. Ruiz responsible for his actions.”

Christopher Brocato, Ruiz's Central Islip-based defense attorney, said his client has taken responsibility.

"This is a very serious case," he said. "He's extremely remorseful … He plans on apologizing to the victim and the victim's family."

Prosecutors said that on May 7, 2021, Ruiz and three other co-defendants kicked in the front door of a Shirley home while a family and their 18-year-old autistic son slept inside.

The family was forced to lay face down on the floor at gunpoint while the crew allegedly rummaged through their home, according to charging documents.

Authorities said Ruiz pistol whipped the teenager, causing cuts to his face, because he did not respond quickly enough to commands.

The group fled the home with a small amount of money and the teenager's cellphone, police said.

Three other individuals were charged for their roles in the burglary, according to police:

• Donte Thomas, 24, who previously pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree burglary and one count of second-degree burglary, and was sentenced to nine years in prison.
• Brayan Medrano, 19, who pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree attempted burglary and is awaiting sentencing.
• Gregg Hogan, 37, who was convicted after a jury trial of three counts of first-degree burglary and one count of second-degree burglary and is also awaiting sentencing.

By Robert Brodsky

robert.brodsky@newsday.com@BrodskyRobert

Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.