Chappaqua Man Sentenced to 21 Years for Participating in a Gunpoint Robbery of 176 Kilograms of Cocaine and Smuggling a Firearm Into a Federal Prison

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that DEEJAY WHITE was sentenced today to 21 years in prison for his participation in a May 29, 2019, gunpoint robbery in the Bronx targeting more than 150 kilograms of cocaine; his participation in a conspiracy to smuggle contraband, including narcotics and a firearm, into a federal detention facility; and his possession of that firearm while incarcerated. On July 23, 2021, WHITE pled guilty before U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel, who imposed this sentence.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: "Deejay White was responsible for a dangerous gunpoint robbery of more than 150 kilograms of cocaine that left several victims injured. Even more troubling, after he was arrested and in jail, White continued to commit crimes. White devised a perilous scheme to bring a gun and drugs into a federal prison. White placed inmates, prison staff, and court personnel in grave danger. Today's lengthy sentence sends a clear message that those who endanger others will be brought to justice."

According to the Information, court documents, and statements made in open court:

In or about late May 2019, DEEJAY WHITE learned that a Bronx-based member of a Puerto Rico-based drug trafficking organization ("DTO") was expecting a delivery of furniture, which concealed approximately 176 kilograms of cocaine. WHITE and others planned a violent, gunpoint robbery of the DTO's cocaine. On May 29, 2019, WHITE drove to the Bronx apartment where the DTO's cocaine was stored and parked outside with his wife and young child in the car. Minutes later, four coconspirators forced entry into the apartment and held up the 10 victims, including four children, at gunpoint. Two victims were pistol-whipped during the robbery, and a third sustained serious injuries after jumping out of the apartment's third-floor window in an attempt to flee to safety. One of the robbers threw a duffel bag containing dozens of kilograms of cocaine into WHITE's car, which then drove off.

WHITE was arrested on November 25, 2019, on charges relating to the gunpoint robbery and conspiracy to distribute the stolen cocaine, ordered detained, and housed at the Metropolitan Correctional Center ("MCC") in Manhattan. Days after entering the MCC, WHITE began using contraband cellphones to conspire with others, including his wife, to commit additional crimes. Among other things, WHITE directed his wife to smuggle drugs into in the MCC, including cocaine and oxycodone, which his wife did on multiple occasions.

In or about January 2020, WHITE conspired with his wife and others to have a loaded firearm smuggled inside the MCC, which they did successfully. When Bureau of Prisons ("BOP") officials discovered a contraband cellphone in WHITE's cell on or about February 26, 2020, WHITE reported to an MCC investigator that there was a gun inside the MCC. WHITE lied to the MCC investigator about his own role in smuggling the firearm into the MCC. Once alerted that there may be a firearm inside the MCC, the BOP imposed a lockdown, which lasted several days, while officials searched for the gun. Following a search of the MCC, on or about March 5, 2020, WHITE's loaded firearm was located inside a wall of WHITE's MCC jail cell.

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In addition to his prison term, WHITE, 45, of Chappaqua, New York, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives , the New York Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration , the New York Office of the United States Postal Inspection Service, the New York State Police, the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Special Agents from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in New York, and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General New York Field Office.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force ("OCDETF") operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The prosecution of DEEJAY WHITE for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime is being handled by the Office's Narcotics Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Juliana N. Murray, Ryan B. Finkel, Peter J. Davis, and Kaylan E. Lasky are in charge of the prosecution.

The prosecution of DEEJAY WHITE for conspiring to receive contraband in prison and being a felon in possession of a firearm is being handled by the Office's Narcotics and Public Corruption Units. Assistant United States Attorneys Juliana N. Murray, Ryan B. Finkel, Peter J. Davis, Kaylan E. Lasky, Aline R. Flodr, Daniel H. Wolf, and Jonathan E. Rebold are in charge of the prosecution.

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