New York Post

Rap on vic’s cousin in bling-heist slay

- Isabel Keane

The vicious, caught-oncamera killing of a Brooklyn laundromat owner was mastermind­ed by his cousin in a conspiracy to steal his flashy, $30,000 gold necklace, prosecutor­s said Tuesday.

Five Far Rockaway, Queens, men were indicted for murder, conspiracy to commit murder, robbery and other charges stemming from the death of Money Perkins, 37, inside his East Flatbush laundromat Dec. 1, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced.

Perkins was ambushed allegedly by his cousin Ronnie Butler, 46, and four other people who were armed with handguns and wearing big, heavy coats.

Perkins and Butler had been feuding ever since the 2022 opening of Perkins’ business, Money P. Clean, the DA said.

Butler reportedly planned the necklace heist with pal Louis Mercado, 48, who recruited his own stepson, Zecharyah Slay, 16, and the son’s alleged gangbanger friends Shaleek Riddick, 19, and Diante Stinson, 20, sources previously told The Post.

The stepson and friends were offered cash for their part in the crime, according to prosecutor­s.

Graphic video footage obtained by The Post shows the moment Perkins was shot dead inside his Clarendon Road business.

The footage shows Perkins lunging at one of the robbers, identified in court papers as Butler, before dragging him to the floor.

The attacker can be seen slamming Perkins’ head repeatedly on the floor before snatching the chain, which he later sold, prosecutor­s said.

At least three of the robbers fired, striking the victim 13 times in the head, torso and leg, prosecutor­s added.

Butler was arraigned Tuesday before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on an indictment in which all the defendants are variously charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, conspiracy and other offenses.

Riddick and Stinson were arraigned March 27. The defendants were ordered held without bail and to return to court on May 9.

Slay, who faces a top charge of second-degree murder, was arraigned before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Craig Walker on March 13.

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