Devon Brown, of Brooklyn, sentenced to 10 years in prison for selling crack cocaine and fentanyl-laced heroin, Nassau DA Anne Donnelly says

A Brooklyn man convicted in August of selling crack cocaine and fentanyl-laced heroin was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Friday, according to Nassau District Attorney Anne Donnelly.

Authorities began an investigation into Devon Brown, 35, after they found his number in the phone of a Floral Park fatal overdose victim, Donnelly said in a statement issued on Monday.

A Nassau jury found Brown guilty on Aug. 13 of two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and resisting arrest. The jury found Brown not guilty of an additional count of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and second-degree assault.

Nassau prosecutors had asked Supreme Court Justice Terence Murphy to sentence Brown to 12 years in prison.

"Devon Brown was selling poison in our communities, and now he will serve a decade behind bars for putting lives at risk," Donnelly said. "Dealers like this fuel addiction and destroy families, and my office will continue to go after them."

Brown's attorney, Richard Hochhauser of Hempstead, said the defense team is considering an appeal of the conviction.

"While we respect the jury’s verdict, we intend to carefully review the record and explore all available appellate options to ensure that justice is served," Hochhauser said in an email to Newsday. "We commend the jury on finding Mr. Brown not guilty of the violent felony to which he was charged."

A Nassau police undercover officer contacted Brown to purchase cocaine and heroin after investigators found the defendant’s number in the overdose victim’s phone. Brown agreed to a meeting in Floral Park on Feb. 27, 2024. Nassau police detectives identified themselves and attempted to arrest Brown, the district attorney said.

Brown attempted to flee, barreling into a detective and knocking him to the ground. During his attempted escape, Brown threw away a small tin box. The box, which contained crack cocaine, was recovered by police, Donnelly said. Authorities also found small colorful bags in the area filled with what tests later confirmed was fentanyl.

Four additional defendants were arrested and prosecuted based on information gathered during the investigation into the fatal overdose in Floral Park, Donnelly said.