Long Island resident Joshua Crowell sentenced to 27 years for selling fentanyl that killed a man, gang-related shooting in the Hamptons

The door to his son’s bedroom was locked, the grief-stricken father said through tears and sobs in federal court in Central Islip. That was the first sign of trouble, because the young man never locked his bedroom door. The father quickly got a key and unlocked the door — only to find his son’s lifeless body leaning against a wall, as if he were playing video games.

He held his son’s body in his arms, the father told U.S. District Judge Gary Brown, until EMTs arrived at their home and said there was nothing they could do for the young man. The son, according to federal prosecutors, died in 2022 from a fentanyl overdose after ingesting illicit drugs supplied by Joshua Crowell of Huntington, a member of the Bloods street gang.

"I’ll always have this feeling of emptiness ... there is always this sadness there," the father said.

Brown sentenced Crowell to 27 years in prison in connection with that man’s death and other crimes on Wednesday. Crowell, also known as "Twiggy," pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl that resulted in a death and assault in aid of racketeering in October.

The victim was identified in court as "John Doe #3” and his father and other family members declined to identify themselves or discuss the case with Newsday after the hearing.

Crowell, 32, and two other men also opened fire with an AK-47 assault weapon and other guns on people attending a party organized by a rival gang in Southampton home in March 2021, injuring three people, according to prosecutors.

"I’m not a violent person," Crowell told Brown before he was sentenced. "I made a bad decision."

Assistant U.S. Attorney James Simmons said the gunmen fired 50 rounds into the crowd, and that it was a "sheer miracle" that there weren’t mass casualties. Two months before the Southampton shooting, Crowell and other gang members opened fire on a home — which was unoccupied at the time — where they believed rival gang members resided, officials said.

Brown said the shootings showed that Crowell had "a callous disregard for human life."

According to prosecutors, Crowell and other co-conspirators operated a drug trafficking network that sold fentanyl, heroin and cocaine for years. Two other people overdosed after purchasing fentanyl from Crowell, although they recovered. 

Crowell, dressed in a tan prison uniform, said he regretted his actions and is committed to becoming a better person. He said he did not intend for anyone to die, and did not look at John Doe #3’s family as he addressed the court.

"I understand my actions had consequences that went far beyond what I understood at the time," the defendant told Brown.

Crowell’s attorney, Glenn Obedin of Central Islip, asked Brown to sentence Crowell to 20 years in prison. He said Crowell has taken responsibility for his actions and should be given the opportunity to become a "member of society" after he is released from prison. Nearly a dozen relatives and friends, including Crowell’s small children, attended Wednesday’s hearing, Obedin said, adding that "there are a lot of good sides to his character." Crowell is a good parent, he said. 

"The fact that he will be away for so long from his children is killing me," the attorney said. Crowell’s family and friends declined to discuss the case following the sentencing.

"This is just a tragedy for everyone involved," Obedin said after the hearing, declining further comment.

But Simmons said Crowell was an avowed member of the Bloodhound Brims set of the Bloods who promoted his affiliation with the gang on social media posts. John Doe #3’s father, as well as his sister and brother, told Brown that Crowell’s actions have upended their family.

The father said his son had struggled with addiction. The young man appeared to defeat "the demon" of addiction for several months but suffered a setback that led to his death.

"My family has been destroyed," the grieving dad said. "It has affected us in so many ways."