Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced two men were sentenced to up to life in prison for their roles in the October 2021 murder of a 23-year-old man in Baldwin.
Darin Semple, 22, of Freeport, was convicted on March 25, 2024, after a jury trial before Judge Helene Gugerty of Murder in the Second Degree (an A-I felony); Robbery in the First Degree (a B violent felony); and Robbery in the Second Degree (a C violent felony). He was sentenced today to 23 years to life in prison.
Devin Obleanis, 22, of Central Islip, pleaded guilty on September 9, 2022, before Judge Gugerty to Murder in the Second Degree and Robbery in the First Degree. 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 DA 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.”
DA Donnelly said that 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. Obleanis sent text messages to the victim requesting to meet under the guise of buying marijuana.
The defendants pulled up behind the victim in their car, entered the victim’s vehicle and held Delossantos at gunpoint. The defendants and the unapprehended other then stole the marijuana and shot the victim two times before fleeing. Delossantos died as a result of his injuries.
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.
The investigation into the unapprehended suspect is ongoing.
The case is being prosecuted by Bureau Chief Michelle Lewisohn of the Grand Jury Bureau and Deputy Bureau Chief Daryl Levy of the Homicide Bureau. Semple is represented by Doug Rankin, Esq. Obleanis is represented by Lloyd Nadel, Esq. and Andrea Zellan, Esq.
