Controversial NYC judge — who flashed his gun in court — gives gangbanger huge break on weapons, attempted murder raps
A Brooklyn judge is facing backlash after granting a reduced sentence to a teenager involved in a gang-related shooting — and then drawing his own firearm during a separate courtroom hearing.
Judge Jeffrey Gershuny, appointed to the Criminal Court bench in 2019 by then-Mayor Bill de Blasio, sparked controversy last month when he gave 19-year-old Jhdae Beckles youthful offender status despite objections from prosecutors. Beckles, a suspected member of the Folk Nation gang, had been arrested twice within a short span in late 2024 — first for carrying a loaded 9mm handgun, and later for his alleged role in a drive-by shooting that left two bystanders injured.
Despite facing attempted murder and weapons charges, Beckles could now serve as little as one year in prison after accepting a plea deal offered by Gershuny. The judge declined to impose the six-year sentence sought by the District Attorney’s Office, opting instead for a term of 1⅓ to 4 years — far less than the 25-year maximum he could have faced if tried as an adult.
“Sometimes teenagers don’t make good decisions,” Gershuny told Beckles in court on July 15. “You have touched the hot stove. Hopefully, you’ve learned your lesson.”
The judge added, “I strongly believe in the power of compassion, mercy and second chances. And I believe Mr. Beckles is certainly deserving of that.”
Not everyone agrees. One law enforcement source criticized the judge’s comparison of violent crime to a child learning not to touch a hot stove. “People are getting hurt again and again — this isn’t about making a single mistake,” the source said.
Tensions around Gershuny grew even more earlier this month when he brandished his own firearm during an August 5 suppression hearing in an unrelated gun case. Attempting to better understand an NYPD officer’s testimony about how he identified a weapon on a suspect, Gershuny pulled out his licensed handgun and a similar bag to the one carried by the accused.
“I want to conduct a little experiment here,” Gershuny said in court, after noting he had cleared the demonstration with security. Prosecutors objected, but the judge overruled them.
“I want to understand what ‘heavily weighted’ and what the ‘L-shape’ of a gun [means],” he explained during the hearing.
The state Office of Court Administration confirmed it is reviewing the incident involving the judge’s gun. However, spokesperson Al Baker defended Gershuny’s legal authority to make sentencing decisions, noting such matters are based on the judge’s discretion and case-specific facts.
Beckles was first arrested on September 25, 2024, after school security at a Brooklyn location alerted police, who allegedly found a loaded gun on him. He was released on bail, but by November 14, he was allegedly involved in a gang-related shooting from a stolen Hyundai in Coney Island. Prosecutors say Beckles and others opened fire at rivals, leaving two bystanders injured and 27 shell casings recovered at the scene.
Despite the gravity of the charges, Beckles remained free on bail until he reappeared before Judge Gershuny last month.
His attorney, Kenneth Montgomery, argued that Beckles — who grew up in a rough neighborhood — deserved the chance to change his trajectory. “He is taking a plea to two very serious cases,” Montgomery said. “He is going to have to grow up in prison.”
Gershuny, who said he also came from a tough background, cited Beckles’ lack of prior criminal history and strong family support as key factors in his decision.
Beckles is scheduled to be sentenced in January 2026.
“This is a judge who did what the law allows him to do,” Montgomery added. “He’s not just applying the law blindly — he understands how society works.”
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