Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Ade N’Gaii, 39, of Harlem, was found guilty by a Suffolk County jury for his part in the killing of Kristopher Appel, 30, of Patchogue, during a planned home invasion.
“The defendant took it upon himself to come into Suffolk County and murder this victim all so he could make money,” said District Attorney Tierney. “I thank the jury for their careful attention to the case, the police for their investigation, and our prosecutors for ensuring that justice is served. The jury’s verdict will ensure that the defendant is held responsible for this unnecessary death driven by greed.”
The evidence at trial established that in October 2018, N’Gaii and his accomplices targeted Appel and conspired to commit a violent home invasion at his residence to steal money and marijuana. On October 27, 2018, N’Gaii and his accomplices, armed with a handgun, drove from the Bronx to Patchogue to carry out their plan. N’Gaii and his accomplices were not successful in breaking into the victim’s home on their first attempt due to being physically unable to break into Appel’s home. Their botched attempted home invasion resulted in the second planned home invasion that turned out to be fatal.
On November 2, 2018, N’Gaii and three accomplices again drove from the Bronx into Suffolk County armed with a handgun. The trio disguised themselves as construction workers, wearing hard hats and reflective vests. N’Gaii and one accomplice forcibly entered Appel’s home, and engaged in a confrontation with Appel in which they brutally beat and fatally stabbed him. Suffolk County Police Department officers discovered Appel deceased in the front vestibule of his home later that day.
During their investigation, police recovered a reflective vest that contained N’Gaii’s DNA from Appel’s home. Witness testimony as well as N’Gaii text messages to an accomplice place him in the vicinity of the crime at the time it occurred. N’Gaii was later arrested on June 24, 2021.
One of N’Gaii’s accomplices, Omar Sam, 41, pleaded guilty to Attempted Murder, a Class B violent felony, on May 13, 2021. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 2, 2023. Sam is being represented by Scott Cerbin, Esq. Another accomplice, Joshua Rodriguez, 29, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony, on November 24, 2021. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 2, 2023. Rodriguez is being represented by Jonathan Manley, Esq. The third accomplice has not yet been identified or charged.
On February 24, 2023, N’Gaii was convicted after a jury trial heard before County Court Judge, the Honorable Anthony S. Senft, Jr., for the crime of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A violent felony. He is due back in court on March 27, 2023 for sentencing, and faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison. N’Gaii is being represented by Alix Duroseau, Esq.
The case is being prosecuted by Principal Assistant District Attorney Elena Tomaro of the Homicide Bureau and Senior Assistant District Attorney Keri Wasson of the Major Crime Bureau.
