Inmate in federal prison accused of orchestrating murder plot using contraband in 2023, prosecutors say

BROOKLYN (WABC) — An inmate at the federal prison in Brooklyn was accused of orchestrating a 2023 murder-for-hire plot using a smuggled cellphone, federal prosecutors announced Thursday.

Dajan McBean is accused of conspiring with two others, Karl Smith and Chelsey Harris, to commit murder. They ultimately killed a bystander, Clarisa Burgos, 28, of Brooklyn, and injured her boyfriend, who police said was the intended target.

The murder, which took place the day after Christmas 2023 outside a nightclub in Queens, was captured on surveillance video that showed at least two gunmen opening fire on either side of the victims, firing at least sixteen shots.

Shell casings from both .45 caliber and 9mm weapons were recovered on Liberty Avenue.

McBean had been detained at MDC-Brooklyn while awaiting sentencing for directing a separate shooting. He was scheduled to appear in Manhattan federal court later Thursday.

“As alleged, Dajahn McBean and his co-conspirators planned and executed an elaborate plot to murder another individual by directing others to shoot at the target several times in New York City. During one of those shootings, an innocent bystander, Clarisa Burgos, McBean allegedly orchestrated this murder plot using a smuggled cellphone from a federal prison while he awaited sentencing for a separate gang-related shooting,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams.

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