US Attorney –
PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the
Southern District of New York, RONALD B. TURK, the Special
Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”), JAMES T.
HAYES, JR., the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Office of
the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement (“ICE”), and RAYMOND W. KELLY, the
Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”),
announced that HISAN LEE, a/k/a “Ice”; DELROY LEE, a/k/a “DJ,”
a/k/a “Specs”; SELBOURNE WAITE, a/k/a “Silky,” a/k/a “Bling”; and
LEVAR GAYLE, a/k/a “Train,” were found guilty today following a
six-week jury trial in Manhattan federal court of various
racketeering, murder, narcotics conspiracy, robbery conspiracy,
robbery, and firearms offenses.
According to the evidence at trial before United States
District Judge BARBARA S. JONES:
HISAN LEE, DELROY LEE, and WAITE were found guilty of
racketeering and racketeering conspiracy arising out of their
involvement, from 1997 through 2007, in the criminal activities
of the DeKalb Avenue Crew, a violent drug-trafficking and robbery
organization in the Bronx, New York. The crew conducted their
drug-trafficking in the vicinity of DeKalb Avenue and 213th
Street, and their robbery business primarily in the vicinity of
the 47th Precinct in the northern Bronx. HISAN LEE, DELROY LEE,
and WAITE were also found guilty of narcotics conspiracy,
involving marijuana, powder cocaine, and crack cocaine, during
the same time period, and the use, carrying, and possession of
firearms in furtherance of that narcotics conspiracy.
HISAN LEE, DELROY LEE, WAITE, and GAYLE also committed
a series of armed, home-invasion robberies in the Bronx at the
following locations: 2041 Strang Avenue; 4136 Wilder Avenue;
2032 Strang Avenue; 4061 Murdoch Avenue; 3955 Paulding Avenue;
860 East 225th Street; and 2930 Hone Avenue.
HISAN LEE and DELROY LEE were also found guilty of the
April 23, 2000, murder of PATRICK TAYLOR, a/k/a Freddy Thompson.
Additionally, HISAN LEE and GAYLE were convicted of the July 25,
2003, murder of ONEIL JOHNSON, at 4136 Wilder Avenue in the
Bronx. DELROY LEE was also convicted of the April 1, 2005,
murder of BUNNY CAMPBELL at 860 E. 225th Street in the Bronx.
* * *
HISAN LEE and DELROY LEE each face a sentence of two
terms of mandatory life in prison without the possibility of
parole. HISAN LEE is scheduled to be sentenced on July 6, 2010,
at 11:00 a.m. before Judge JONES. DELROY LEE is scheduled to be
sentenced on July 7, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. before Judge JONES.
WAITE faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in
prison on the narcotics conspiracy count, and a total mandatory
minimum sentence of 100 years in prison on the firearms charges,
to be served consecutively to any other sentence. WAITE is
scheduled to be sentenced on July 9, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. before
Judge JONES.
GAYLE faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
GAYLE is scheduled to be sentenced on July 8, 2010, at 11:00 a.m.
before Judge JONES.
This case, dubbed “Operation Lions Den,” was brought as
part of the coordinated efforts of the ATF, ICE, the NYPD, and
the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
Mr. BHARARA praised the outstanding work of all of the law
enforcement agencies involved in the investigation and
prosecution of the case.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent
Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys MICHAEL Q.
ENGLISH, MARGARET GARNETT, and TODD BLANCHE are in charge of the
prosecution.
10-112 ###
