June 27, 2024 -Springfield- Paul Gayle, 30 and Malik Erskine, 24, both of Springfield, were sentenced todayin Hampden County Superior Court after a jury found them guilty on numerous charges in an armed home invasion in September of 2019 in which the victim was beaten, tortured, and burned in order to rob him.A third defendant who is a juvenile was convicted along with the aforementioned defendants.

Paul Gayle was sentenced to 35-40 years in state prison while Malik Erskine was sentenced to 18-20 years in state prison.

Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni stated, “The victim in this case has suffered immensely both physically and mentally from the barbaric attack he suffered at the hands of the defendants. I thank the detectives from the Springfield Police Department for their hard work and thorough investigation leading to the arrest of the suspects. I also thank Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Schlemmer for his hard work and skill in prosecuting this case, along with second chair, Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Plummer, and appellate counsel, Assistant District Attorney Joe Coliflores. I am hopeful this verdict brings some sense of justice to the victim who will forever live with the trauma he has suffered.”

On Monday, September 30, 2019 an officer from the Springfield Police Department was flagged down by citizens on Roosevelt Avenue. When the officer responded he discovered an adult male victim who appeared to be suffering from burns over the majority of his body. The victim stated several individuals broke into his home in order to rob him, they eventually had the victim electronically transfer $4,000 to a third party’s account.  After forcing entry they tied him zip ties and tortured him by using an accelerant and an ignition to burn him. The victim was transported to Baystate Medical Center where he was stabilized and then transported to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston for an extensive recovery period with second and third degree burns over 60% of his body.

Found guilty in this matter are:

Paul Gayle, he was indicted and found guilty on: home invasion, armed assault in dwelling, breaking & entering daytime for felony, armed robbery (two counts), kidnapping (two counts), mayhem, assault & battery with dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, assault &battery with dangerous weapon, extortion by threat of injury, assault & battery, money laundering, conspiracy, witness intimidation, threat to commit a crime.

Malik Erskine, he was indicted and found guilty on: home invasion, armed assault in dwelling, breaking & entering daytime for felony, armed robbery, kidnapping (two counts), assault &battery with dangerous weapon, extortion by threat of injury, assault & battery, money laundering.

Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Schlemmer represented the Commonwealth in this case.