Two indicted in killing of Baldwin man, DA says

Two Long Island men have been indicted on murder charges for their role in the October 2021 ambush and killing of a Baldwin man they met up with to purchase marijuana, Nassau prosecutors said.

Darin Semple, 20, of Freeport, pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of second-degree murder in the death of Rafael Delossantos along with charges of first and second-degree robbery. He was ordered held without bail at arraignment.

His alleged co-conspirator, Devin Obleanis, 21, of Central Islip, was arraigned last month and pleaded not guilty to identical charges. He was also held without bail. 

If convicted of the top charge, they each face a maximum sentence of up to life in prison.

“The defendants allegedly lured Rafael Delossantos to Baldwin under the guise of buying marijuana, but instead, the meetup was an ambush that left him dead,” said Nassau District Attorney Anne Donnelly. “The scourge of gun violence continues to plague our county and take lives.”

Damien Brown, an attorney for Semple, and Lloyd Nadel, Obleanis' lawyer, did not respond to requests for comment. 

Devian Daniels, Semple's previous lawyer, told Newsday last year that his client denied any role in the shooting. Nadel previously described his client as a college student with no prior criminal record who "comes from a good family."

Prosecutors said Semple, Obleanis, and a third unapprehended suspect met with Delossantos, 23, of Baldwin, during the afternoon of Oct. 25, 2021 in front of a home on Victoria Street in Baldwin. Obleanis had text-messaged the victim to purchase marijuana, authorities said.

The defendants arrived at the meeting and entered the victim's car, holding Delossantos at gunpoint, according to the indictment. The suspects then stole the drugs and shot Delossantos twice before fleeing, police said.

Semple and Obleanis were arrested on the Meadowbrook Parkway in North Merrick in December. The investigation into the unapprehended suspect is ongoing.

Obleanis is due back in court Wednesday while Semple is scheduled to appear again May 25. 

By Robert Brodsky

robert.brodsky@newsday.com@BrodskyRobert

Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.