Racketeering, Murder, Narcotics Trafficking

Four Defendants Found Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court of Racketeering, Murder, Narcotics Trafficking, Robbery, and Firearms Offenses


April 6, 2010 - 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.