A federal jury in Central Islip returned a guilty verdict today against Spencer Jean for Hobbs Act robbery of a marijuana trafficker, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice.  The verdict followed a two-week trial before United States District Judge Joanna Seybert.  When sentenced, Jean faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years’ imprisonment on the firearms discharge count, and up to a total of 45 years on the other four counts.

Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the verdict.

The evidence at trial established that on March 20, 2018 in Middle Island, Jean robbed $1,500 worth of marijuana from a drug dealer he had met at a halfway house following a 2016 firearms conviction.  During the robbery, Jean brandished a 9mm Glock handgun loaded with hollow-point ammunition, and shot the victim in the leg at close-range.  Shortly thereafter, Jean directed a former girlfriend to provide an alibi for him by lying to law enforcement and falsely testifying at trial that he was at a nursing home in Medford at the time of the shooting. 

“Spencer Jean is a dangerous felon who used a handgun to commit a violent crime, and in doing so put others in the community at grave risk,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue.  “Stopping gun violence in the district is a continuing priority of this Office and our federal and local law enforcement partners, and we will be unrelenting in our efforts to hold violent offenders like Jean accountable.”  Mr. Donoghue thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, for its outstanding work on the case.

 This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division.  Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony Bagnuola and Allen L. Bode are in charge of the prosecution.

The Defendant:

SPENCER JEAN (also known as “Cash”)

Age:  33

Westbury, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 19-CR-123 (JS)