Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that RAYMOND CHRISTIAN, GLENN THOMAS, and TYRELL WHITAKER were found guilty last Friday in Manhattan federal court of the December 15, 2010, murder of Jeffrey Henry. Jeffrey Henry was killed when the defendants attempted an armed robbery of individuals selling crack cocaine from an apartment located at 54 Chambers Street, Newburgh, New York. CHRISTIAN, THOMAS, and WHITAKER were convicted after a three-week jury trial before U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated: “This case is the embodiment of how drug trafficking begets violence, and why we and our law enforcement partners are determined to stop both. In the mayhem of a shootout that came out of the deadly mix of drugs, guns and men bent on robbery, the defendants committed a cold-blooded murder for drugs and cash. Now they will pay the price for their crime.”

According to the Indictment filed in federal court and the evidence presented at trial:

On December 15, 2010, CHRISTIAN, WHITAKER, and THOMAS, along with at least five other individuals, participated in the gunpoint robbery of a house at 54 Chambers Street in Newburgh, New York. The house was well-known throughout Newburgh for its prolific crack cocaine trafficking. During the robbery, CHRISTIAN lost his firearm to one of the victims, which resulted in a shoot-out between robbers and victims. As the robbers attempted to flee the house, they encountered Jeffrey Henry, who had just arrived. Henry attempted to pull the door shut, to lock the robbers in the house, while calling 911. The robbers, including WHITAKER and THOMAS, were ultimately able to pry the door open and, through the opening, shoot Henry. Henry was shot twice, and died shortly thereafter.

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All three of the defendants, CHRISTIAN, 21, THOMAS, 25, and WHITAKER, 20, are from Newburgh, New York. They were each found guilty of one count of robbery, one count of use of a firearm during the robbery, and one count of murder through the use of a firearm during the robbery. In addition, CHRISTIAN and THOMAS were also found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit robbery. CHRISTIAN and THOMAS were found not guilty of one count of conspiring to distribute narcotics. The defendants each face a maximum sentence of life in prison, and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years of in prison. The potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York State Police, the Newburgh Police Department, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew Bauer and Kan M. Nawaday are in charge of the prosecution.