Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Levoughn McKinnie, 36, of Bellport, was sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision after pleading guilty in November 2023 to numerous weapons and drug charges shortly before opening statements in his trial were about to begin.
“This prior felon intended to distribute dangerous drugs into our community here in Suffolk County,” said District Attorney Tierney. “I want to thank the Suffolk County Police Department for their investigation in this case, and the assigned prosecutors for ensuring that this defendant was held accountable for his crimes.”
According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, on
January 26, 2023, members of the Suffolk County Police Department executed a search warrant at a residence frequented by McKinnie. During the search, officers recovered cocaine, two digital scales, drug packaging material, cash, and a loaded .380 caliber semiautomatic pistol.
On November 29, 2023, shortly before his trial was about to begin, McKinnie pleaded guilty before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Timothy P. Mazzei, to the following charges:
- One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony;
- One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a Class D felony;
- One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony;
- One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, a Class D felony; and
- Two counts of Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree, Class A misdemeanors.
McKinnie also has two prior felony convictions for Attempted Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree in 2008, and Attempted Assault in the Second Degree in 2005.
McKinnie was originally scheduled to be sentenced on February 8, 2024, but failed to appear in court. Justice Mazzei issued a bench warrant. On March 30, 2024, a member of the Suffolk County Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle McKinnie was driving. McKinnie failed to stop his vehicle and was subsequently arrested for unlawful fleeing from a police officer and reckless driving.
On April 30, 2024, Judge Mazzei sentenced McKinnie to 15 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision. He was represented by Scott Zerner, Esq.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Lauren Golombek and Dennis Wouters of the Narcotics Bureau, with investigative assistance from the Suffolk County Police Department’s Narcotics Section.
Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.