A south King County man, LENNY BRIKN, JR, 19, of Federal Way, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to seven years in prison for using a firearm during a drug crime that turned deadly, announced U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan.
According to the investigation, BRIKN and his half-brother Deshawn Boykin attempted to rob two drug dealers of two pounds of marijuana. After holding the men at gunpoint, Boykin was fatally shot as he and BRIKN tried to run away.
At sentencing, U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik said, “firearms in the hands of people who cannot control themselves continues to create tragedy in our community.” U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan also weighed in on the case, stating “From any perspective, this case is a pure tragedy. One young man is going to prison and his brother is dead — all over marijuana valued at less than $5,000. This is a further reminder that guns and drugs are a deadly combination.”
The events leading up to the sentencing began when David Ross, 35, of Renton, Washington, and an associate arrived at a Federal Way apartment complex to sell marijuana to BRIKN and Boykin. Ross was armed with a gun, despite having two previous felony drug convictions that prohibit him from possessing a firearm. BRIKN and Boykin drew “Mac 10” style semi-automatic pistols, ordered Ross and his associate to lie on the ground, and attempted to rob them of the marijuana they brought to the drug deal.
BRIKN and Boykin ultimately ran away, and Ross drew his gun and fired multiple times at the fleeing men. Boykin was hit twice and died of his wounds at St. Francis Medical Center. Ross is charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana, unlawful possession of a firearm, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a mandatory minimum ten year sentence in addition to any other sentence imposed in the case.
Ross is scheduled for trial in January 2015. The case was investigated by the Federal Way Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg. The sentence handed down to BRIKN serves as a reminder of the dangers of combining guns and drugs, and the devastating consequences that can result from such actions.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan emphasized the importance of addressing the root causes of violent crime, including the easy accessibility of firearms and the allure of illegal drugs. The community is left to pick up the pieces and mourn the loss of a young life, while also acknowledging the need for harsher penalties for those who choose to engage in such reckless and deadly behavior.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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