Brooklyn man sentenced to 12 years in prison for manslaughter

December 5, 2014 Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Brooklyn DA Kenneth Thompson. Eagle YouTube screenshot

Share this:

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle has learned that a 46-year-old Brooklyn man was sentenced to 12 years in prison following his conviction last month on charges of first-degree manslaughter for beating and stabbing to death a 39-year-old man in East Williamsburg.

The defendant, Rafael Vargas, 46, of Bedford-Stuyvesant, was sentenced by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Vincent Del Giudice to a determinate term of 12 years in prison and five years of post-release supervision.

Vargas’ 21-year-old son pleaded guilty to assault for his part in the attack.

According to trial testimony, Vargas and his son attacked the victim, Anthony Dash, inside the Cooper Park Houses on Jackson Street.

The trial revealed that, Richie Vargas — the son — was attempting to purchase crack cocaine from an individual. Dash was also present. When the younger Vargas held out $8, the victim grabbed it, saying that he was “owed” the money. Vargas left, got his father and went back to confront Dash.

He repeatedly punched Dash in the head and body, knocking him to the ground. Rafael Vargas then pulled out a knife and began slashing at Dash, finally stabbing him in the thigh and cutting Dash’s femoral artery.

He died at Woodhull Hospital Center.

The younger Vargas is expected to be sentenced on Jan. 6, 2015.

“A man is dead and a father and son are headed to prison, all because of a fight over eight dollars,” Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson said.