Jesus Bravo Pled Guilty to Four Violent Felonies for Incidents on Three Dates and is Expected to be Sentenced to 19 Years in Prison

Wilmer Reyes-Bran Pled Guilty to Five Violent Felonies for Incidents on Four Dates, Faces up to 26 Years in Prison

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that Jesus Bravo, age 26, of Newburgh, and Wilmer Reyes-Bran, age 24, of Newburgh, both entered guilty pleas before the Honorable Craig Stephen Brown in the Orange County Court covering a series of violent incidents in the City of Newburgh.  Bravo pled guilty to Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree and two counts of Assault in the Second Degree relating to three incidents in 2023.  Reyes-Bran pled guilty to Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree and two counts of Assault in the Second Degree relating the three incidents with Bravo, in addition to another incident in 2024.  At sentencing on January 6, 2025 it is anticipated that Bravo will be sentenced to an aggregate term of nineteen (19) years in prison to be followed by five (5) years of post-release supervision.  At sentencing on February 25, 2025, the People will recommend that Reyes-Bran be sentenced to an aggregate term of twenty-six (26) years in prison to be followed by five (5) years of post-release supervision.

A long-term investigation into gang-related violence in and around the City of Newburgh was conducted by the Non-Fatal Shooting Taskforce, which consists of members of the City of Newburgh Police Department, investigators and attorneys with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, and analysts from the Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center.  The Taskforce, which is funded through the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative, targets the drivers of gun crimes by enhancing cases even where victims and witnesses are uncooperative with law enforcement.

As alleged in documents filed and statements made in court, on September 21, 2023 at approximately 6:00 p.m., Bravo and Reyes-Bran approached a victim in the City of Newburgh and asked if he was in a known gang.  Reyes-Bran pulled out a knife which Bravo encouraged him to use.  Reyes-Bran then stabbed the victim repeatedly in the arms, face and torso while Bravo punched and kicked the victim.

On December 11, 2023 at approximately 9:50 p.m., Bravo and Reyes-Bran followed two males at a location in the City of Newburgh.  Bravo then fired a gun at one of the men, who ran away.  Bravo and Reyes-Bran then approached the other man and Bravo pistol whipped him while Reyes-Bran kicked the man.

On December 30, 2023 at approximately 3:00 a.m., police officers were alerted to a ShotSpotter activation in an area of the City of Newburgh, which indicates that shots were fired.  When the officers arrived, they found an SUV with eight (8) bullet holes but no people were present.  Police later learned that a victim went to the hospital with a gun shot wound to the back.  Surveillance video showed that Bravo fired the gun at the SUV after Reyes-Bran handed him the gun.

On February 12, 2024, law enforcement executed a judicially-authorized search warrant at Reyes-Bran’s residence in the City of Newburgh.  During the search warrant execution, police recovered a firearm without a serial number, and ammunition for the gun in Reyes-Bran’s pocket.  Later analysis linked the firearm to the December, 2023 shootings.

District Attorney Hoovler thanked the City of Newburgh Police Department, with the assistance of the Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center, for their investigation and the arrest of Bravo and Reyes-Bran.

“The pleas entered today mark an end to the reign of violence perpetrated by these two defendants,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “I commend the tireless work of the Non-Fatal Shooting Taskforce, including the City of Newburgh Police, the Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center and my staff.  Violent crimes, and the violent criminals who perpetrate them, are stopped only by the painstaking efforts of law enforcement.  These offenders must be identified, investigated and held accountable for their despicable actions.”

The cases are being prosecuted by Executive Assistant District Attorney Leah Canton, Senior Assistant District Attorney Christopher Kelly and Assistant District Attorney Anthony Molina.

This criminal charge is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the State of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.