A Staten Island drug defendant with past gang ties failed to appear in court. He was offered that reason

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Although he faced years in prison following a police chase and drug arrest on the borough’s North Shore, things nearly got worse for a Staten Island man who missed a morning court appearance last month.

Tyshawn Williams, 33, of Roxbury Street in Mariners Harbor, pleaded guilty in February to third-degree attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Already struggling with a criminal record that includes a 2016 drug bust linked to alleged gang activity in the area, he was sentenced June 14 by Judge Lisa Grey to five years in prison followed by three years of post-release supervision.

His lawyer, Mario Gallucci, said his client “admitted his guilt by accepting the plea offer, which he weighed against the significant sentence he could have received if convicted by a jury.”

Williams was arrested Sept. 26 after authorities alleged he led officers on a wild chase beginning at Bay Street and Victory Boulevard in Tompkinsville, during which he drove the wrong way down streets, struck a police cruiser, mounted a curb and threw drugs out of his car.

He was also charged in connection with a drug sting operation last summer in Tompkinsville, during which police allegedly seized cocaine and fentanyl.

In 2016, he was sentenced to prison in connection with a drug bust in Tompkinsville involving the Original Stackboys, a New Brighton-based group with ties to the Bloods street gang, records show.

“DON’T WASTE IT”

The plea deal was based in part on a promise that he would return to court on a specific schedule until his sentencing.

After appearing before Grey several times, he failed to appear on the morning of June 13, when the court issued an arrest warrant.

When he arrived a few hours later, he told Judge Ralph Porzio, who was replacing Grey, that he had to take his 12-year-old daughter to school.

Porzio said he doesn’t believe that, based on the fact that school drop-off times are typically more than an hour before cases are first called in state Supreme Court in St. George.

“Unless you brought your child to school late, the story you’re telling me is a fairy tale,” Porzio said. “You put yourself and your family in a difficult situation by disobeying the court order.”

Eventually the judge let him go with a warning.

“I’m giving you this opportunity, but don’t waste it,” Porzio warns.

“Yes, sir,” Williams replied.

As the defendant left the courtroom with his family, Porzio shouted, “Nine o’clock, sir!”

“Yes, sir,” Williams replied.