
Five individuals hailing from Queens have been formally charged with
murder, conspiracy to commit murder, robbery, and various other offenses
in relation to the recorded killing of a laundromat proprietor in East
Flatbush, Brooklyn in December of last year. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez revealed on Tuesday the charges
brought against Ronnie Butler, 46 victims cousin, who is accused of conspiring with an
accomplice to orchestrate the murder of Money Perkins, 37. The
accomplice allegedly recruited his teenage stepson and two of the
stepson's friends to carry out the fatal attack. District Attorney Gonzalez stated that the execution of a local
businessman, friend, brother, and beloved father was truly shocking,
especially considering it was reportedly orchestrated by his own cousin.
The collaboration between the NYPD and the district attorney's office
led to a comprehensive investigation that uncovered the conspiracy
behind this heinous crime. Moving forward, we are committed to ensuring
that all individuals involved in this crime are brought to justice. Based on the inquiry, it has been determined that Butler and Perkins
were engaged in a prolonged conflict that originated when the victim
established his laundromat in 2022.
According to prosecutors, in November 2023, Butler purportedly requested
assistance from his acquaintance Louis Mercado, aged 48, to carry out
the murder of the victim. Allegedly, Mercado then enlisted the help of
his stepson, who in turn brought along Shaleek Riddick, aged 19, and
Diante Stinson, aged 20, to aid in the commission of the crime. On the evening of December 1, 2023, moments before 6 p.m., Perkins found
himself unexpectedly attacked by a group of four assailants. These
individuals, armed with handguns, targeted him inside his laundromat,
Money P. Clean, which is situated on Clarendon Road. In connection to the brutal murder, Butler, Riddick, Mercado, Diante
Stinson, and 16-year-old Zecharyah Slay were apprehended by officers
last month.