Brooklyn Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for His Role in Murder-For-Hire and Marijuana Trafficking Conspiracies

Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Leon Campbell was sentenced by United States District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall to nine years’ imprisonment for his 2013 participation in a murder-for-hire conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute marijuana in Brooklyn and Queens.  Campbell pleaded guilty to the crimes in June 2019. Upon completion of his sentence, Campbell faces deportation from the United States.

Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Ray Donovan, Special Agent-in-Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, announced the sentence.

“Campbell showed a total disregard for human life, putting a price on the head of someone he suspected of being a federal informant and plotting to execute him,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue.  “The vigilant work of our law enforcement partners enabled them to prevent a murder and hold the defendant responsible for his callous crimes.”  Mr. Donoghue extended his grateful appreciation to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, United States Marshal Service and New York City Police Department for their assistance during the investigation.

“This murder-for-hire conspiracy reminds us of the extent drug traffickers will go to evade imprisonment,” said DEA Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan.  “And, it underscores the violence associated with the drug trade that pervades throughout time. I applaud the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York for their diligent work on this investigation.”   

On April 26, 2013, DEA agents followed Campbell as he was making a delivery of marijuana to a customer in Brooklyn.  Campbell spotted the agents and fled, suspecting his customer was an informant who had provided information to federal law enforcement.  On April 30, 2013, Campbell called co-defendant Williams and offered to pay him $5,000 to kill the suspected informant.  Williams agreed to commit the murder and chose a gang member to carry out the contract.  Subsequently, when Campbell told Williams that he would personally kill the suspected informant but needed an alibi, Williams responded that it would be better to pay someone else to do the job and “get it right.”  Law enforcement agents were monitoring Campbell’s phone and disrupted the murder plot. 

Williams was convicted after trial in January 2018 of murder-for-hire conspiracy.  He is awaiting sentencing. 

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Nathan D. Reilly and Hiral D. Mehta are in charge of the prosecution.

The Defendant:

LEON CAMPBELL (also known as “Country”)
Age: 41
Brooklyn, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 13-CR-419 (LDH)