21 Years For Chappaqua Man Who Robbed Cartel, Smuggled Coke To Inmates

CHAPPAQUA, NY — A Chappaqua man has been sentenced to 21 years in prison for participating in an armed robbery of 176 kilos of cocaine and smuggling a firearm into a federal prison.

The Westchester man's brazen robbery of a Puerto Rico-based drug cartel left several people injured, but even after law enforcement caught up with him, he continued to play a dangerous game from behind bars.

On Thursday, Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that the 45-year-old Chappaqua resident, Deejay White, was sentenced to 21 years in federal prison for his participation in a May 29, 2019, gunpoint robbery in the Bronx. White targeted more than 150 kilograms of cocaine and participated in a conspiracy to smuggle contraband, including narcotics and a firearm, into a federal detention facility. He was found to be in possession of that firearm while incarcerated.

On July 23, White entered a guilty plea before U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel, who imposed the sentence.

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"Deejay White was responsible for a dangerous gunpoint robbery of more than 150 kilograms of cocaine that left several victims injured," Williams said. "Even more troubling, after he was arrested and in jail, White continued to commit crimes. White devised a perilous scheme to bring a gun and drugs into a federal prison. White placed inmates, prison staff, and court personnel in grave danger. Today’s lengthy sentence sends a clear message that those who endanger others will be brought to justice."

White was arrested on November 25, 2019 for his part in the robbery and conspiracy to distribute the stolen cocaine. He was ordered to be detained and housed at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in Manhattan. Days later, White began using contraband cellphones to conspire with others, including his wife, Dawntiana White, to commit additional crimes. Among other things, White directed his wife to smuggle drugs to him in jail.

In January 2020, White convinced his wife and other associates to have a firearm and drugs smuggled to him in jail. After they successfully smuggled the firearm and contraband into the MCC, White confirmed to his 38-year-old wife that he had received the firearm.

On February 26, 2020, Bureau of Prisons officials discovered a contraband cellphone in White's cell and transferred him to the Specialized Housing Unit (SHU). Following a search of the entire prison, on March 5, 2020, the firearm, which was loaded, was found inside a wall of White's cell.

Deejay White was convicted of conspiracy to commit a Hobbs Act robbery, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Dawntiana White previously pled guilty to narcotics conspiracy, prison contraband conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and two counts of wire fraud and perjury.