Career Brooklyn burglar gets 40 years to life for 8 thefts, cites drug problem

January 29, 2018 By Paul Frangipane Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Ricardo Gordon is escorted into a Brooklyn Supreme Courtroom to be sentenced for committing eight burglaries. Eagle photos by Paul Frangipane

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A career Brooklyn burglar with felony thefts dating back to 1984 was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison at Brooklyn Supreme Court on Monday, as he told the judge that a drug addiction changed his lifestyle.

Ricardo Gordon was previously convicted in a month-and-a-half-long jury trial to eight counts of burglary, criminal trespassing and possession of stolen property for a string of robberies in 2015. Facing a maximum 200 years to life for the eight burglaries, he was overcome with emotion in court.

“I realized I do have a drug problem,” Gordon told Supreme Court Justice Matthew Sciarrino. “I know what I’ve done and I’m sorry for what I’ve done. I don’t wanna die here.”

With teary eyes, he apologized to the judge for being emotional in court.

“Mr. Gordon, I took no issue in you being emotional,” Sciarrino said before dealing the 40-year sentence, 10 less than prosecutors’ recommendations. “You were a gentleman throughout the trial. And I sincerely wish you luck.”

With Gordon having made an expletive-laden phone call to his brother from Rikers Island last month saying he didn’t have a drug problem, prosecutors sang a different tone.

“The defendant is a violent persistent felon,” said Assistant District Attorney Rob Zweibel. He added that the career felon would continue to commit crimes once he’s released from prison.

Gordon’s attorney, Sarah Burleson said any calls were consistent with someone in prison who has tried to live up to their siblings.

Burleson then cited prosecutors’ remarks in court documents that Gordon was “incapable of reform.”

“I hope none of us here are doing this work because we believe that’s true,” Burleson said. “Mr. Gordon is a human being.”

Prosecutors said Gordon broke into eight homes in Brooklyn, on occasion stealing family heirlooms and computers with files the victims could never replace, in addition to jewelry and other items.

In October and November of 2015, Gordon broke into buildings on Nostrand Avenue, Lenox Road, Hawthorne Road, Lincoln Place, Linden Boulevard and Ocean Parkway, according to court records.

He was caught on Nov. 29, 2015 when a Linden Boulevard resident found him carrying a pillowcase filled with stolen property.

Zweibel said in court only two victims were able to recover their possessions.