Two men were sentenced to up to life in prison for their part in a murder that occurred in Baldwin. The two lured Rafael Delossantos to Baldwin where they ambushed and shot him to death.
On October 25, 2021, at approximately 1:51 p.m. on Victoria Street in Baldwin, Darin Semple, Devin Obleanis, and another unapprehended suspect, met with 23-year-old Rafael Delossantos. The victim was under the impression he was meeting up with someone for a marijuana deal. When Delossantos arrived at the scene the defendants pulled behind the victim’s car then continued to enter the victim’s vehicle and hold him at gunpoint. The defendants then stole the marijuana and shot the victim twice, leaving Delossantos with injuries that later resulted in death.
Semple and Obleanis were both arrested 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.
Semple, 22, of Freeport, was convicted on March 25, 2024, of murder and robbery. He was sentenced on May 21, 2024 to 23 years to life in prison. Obleanis, 22, of Central Islip, pleaded guilty on September 9, 2022, to Murder and Robbery. He was sentenced on April 15, 2024, to 20 years to life in prison.
“Rafael Delossantos’ young life was snuffed out by Darin Semple and Devin Obleanis, who lured the 23-year-old to Baldwin intending to steal from him, and killed him in the process,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. “These defendants callously ended Rafael’s life and will spend decades in prison paying for their violence. Our thoughts remain with Rafael’s family and friends as they continue to mourn his loss.”