Leevander Wade, 44, of East Orange, New Jersey, has been sentenced to 440 months (36 years and eight months) in prison for his role in three murders connected to a large-scale drug trafficking operation.
Wade pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy earlier this year.
According to court documents and evidence, Wade, a manager in the drug enterprise, facilitated the murders of an informant and a bystander in 2018, along with the killing of another member of the enterprise who was considered a risk.
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Wade’s involvement included assisting in ordering the murders, driving the perpetrator to and from the crime scene, and helping to destroy evidence.
Several other members of the Bloods street gang involved in the murders have also been sentenced to lengthy prison terms. The leader of the drug enterprise, Michael Healy, was convicted of multiple charges, including murder in aid of racketeering, and faces mandatory life sentences.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger acknowledged the collaborative efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies in bringing Wade and his co-conspirators to justice.
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