A Brooklyn federal judge on Monday handed down lengthy prison sentences to gang leaders following violent clashes with rivals, the New York Post reported.

Leaders of the Brooklyn-based Real Right street gang have been given lengthy prison sentences following a chaotic series of shootings that left innocent bystanders dead. Semaj Smith, 30, was sentenced to 11 years, while his associates Mark Waiters, 26, and Dajan McBean, 28, were each given sentences of more than 12 years. according to In the New York Post.

The convictions stemmed from a string of violent incidents linked to a feud with the rival Blood gang, which had ties to the 50 Brims Bloods faction. The feud escalated into a car chase through Manhattan, in which Smith, McBean and Waiters pursued Blood gang members who were driving the wrong way down a one-way street, the outlet reported. The chase ended when an innocent bystander who was mistaken for the target was shot but survived.

New York 'Real Right' gang members convicted after fighting 'video game'-like street war with rival 'Bread Gang' gang https://t.co/Q2TW5HZa1A pic.twitter.com/wSm2IKbd5R

— New York Post (@nypost) June 24, 2024

Breon Peace, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, stressed that the safety of the community remains the number one priority. (Related article: Gang leader who stalked and killed elderly man at McDonald's drive-thru sentenced to 37 years in prison)

“We will not allow our communities to become scenes from a video game – with gang wars, reckless shootings and car chases,” Peace said, according to the New York Post. “Today's sentence shows that individuals like the defendants who do not get this message will be punished with lengthy prison sentences.”