BELLPORT MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO NUMEROUS FELONY DRUG AND WEAPONS CHARGES

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Levoughn McKinnie, 36, of Bellport, pleaded guilty to numerous weapons and drug charges shortly before opening arguments in his trial were about to begin.

“We will continue to go after those who continue to flood our streets with dangerous drugs and illegal deadly weapons,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Illicit drugs destroy lives, and illegal weapons threaten the safety of our Suffolk County residents.”

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 of 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, right before his trial was set 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 has two prior felony convictions including Attempted Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree from 2008, and Attempted Assault in the Second Degree from 2005.

McKinnie is due back in court for sentencing on February 8, 2024, and faces up to 15 years in prison. He is being represented by Scott Zerner, Esq.

The case is being 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.

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Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments.

Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.

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