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A Few Clouds Two men indicted on 2021 murder charges
Darin Semple and co-defendant Devin Obleanis have been charged with murder in the shooting death of 23-year-old victim Rafael Delossantos. Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced Monday the indictment of two men for their alleged roles in the murder of the 23-year-old victim in October 2021 in Baldwin during an apparent drug deal. If convicted of the top charge, the defendants face a maximum of up to life in prison.
Darin Semple, 20, of Freeport, was arraigned April 25, before Judge Helene Gugerty on charges including murder in the second degree which is an A-I felony, robbery in the first degree, a B violent felony, and robbery in the second degree, a C violent felony.
Semple pleaded not guilty and was remanded and is due back in court on May 25, 2022. Obleanis, 21, of Central Islip, was arraigned on March 25, 2022, before Judge Gugerty and charged with murder in the second degree, robbery in the first degree and robbery in the second degree. Obleanis pleaded not guilty, was remanded and will be due back in court on April 27, 2022.
“The defendants allegedly lured Rafael Delossantos to Baldwin under the guise of buying marijuana, but instead, the meet-up was an ambush that left him dead,” said district attorney Anne T. Donnelly. “The scourge of gun violence continues to plague our county and take lives. We will continue to work together with our partners at the NCPD to get these dangerous weapons off our streets and out of the hands of criminals,” he finished.
Donnelly said that, according to the indictment, on October 25, 2021, at approximately 1:51 p.m. in front of a location on Victoria Street in Baldwin, Semple, Obleanis, and another unapprehended suspect, met with 23-year-old Rafael Delossantos. Obleanis allegedly text messaged the victim and agreed to meet with the intention to buy marijuana.
The defendants allegedly pulled up behind the victim in their car, entered the victim’s vehicle and held Delossantos at gunpoint. The three defendants then allegedly stole the marijuana and shot the victim two times before fleeing. Leaving Delossantos to die as a result of his injuries. Semple and Obleanis were both arrested later on the Meadowbrook Parkway in North Merrick by detectives of the Nassau County Police Department’s Homicide Squad and the Bureau of Special Operations on December 10, 2021.
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel Michelle Lewisohn of the Homicide Bureau. Semple is represented by Damien Brown, Esq. Obleanis is represented by Lloyd Nadel, Esq.
The investigation into the unapprehended suspect is ongoing. The charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.
