Driver sentenced to 17 years for 2018 drive-by killing of Brooklyn chef; gunmen remain at large.

A former convict has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for his role as the driver in a drive-by shooting that resulted in the murder of Argenis Cabrera, a respected chef in Brooklyn. The incident, which occurred nearly seven years ago, remains marked by unresolved questions, as the gunmen who fired the fatal shots have yet to be apprehended.

Marc Jean, 37, accepted a plea deal last month in connection with the shooting that claimed Cabrera’s life on July 3, 2018. The court proceedings revealed that Cabrera, 33 at the time, was struck by bullets while he was mere steps from his home on Union Street in Crown Heights. The assault was perpetrated from a minivan, which subsequently crashed nearby, with its occupants fleeing towards a subway station. Jean, who was identified as the driver, pleaded guilty to a count of attempted murder; however, he did not disclose the identities of the individuals who fired the weapon.

The tragic event left Cabrera’s family and the community in mourning. Assistant District Attorney Fabiola Maruffo emphasized that the pursuit of justice for Cabrera’s family is far from over, as the actual shooters remain at large. In the immediate aftermath of the crime, Jean was interrogated by police, during which he denied any involvement in the shooting. He claimed to have no connection to the minivan used in the crime and suggested that he was simply a victim of circumstance.

Following his arrest linked to Cabrera’s murder in May 2023—just as he was preparing for release from an unrelated two-year prison sentence for a weapons offense—Jean displayed no remorse during his sentencing hearing. His attorney indicated that Jean expressed regret to Cabrera’s family, although the nature of his plea did not involve cooperation with law enforcement to apprehend the actual shooters.

Cabrera’s family, who described him as a charismatic individual and a dedicated father of two, have called for closure. Reports suggest that the police had initially indicated Cabrera’s murder may have been a case of mistaken identity, as he was socializing with friends at the time of the tragic shooting.

The community continues to honor Cabrera’s legacy as both a family man and a skilled chef, revered for his ability to uplift those around him with his humor and culinary talents. As the investigation into the shooting remains unresolved, the search for justice continues in the Crown Heights neighborhood.