In a significant development in the legal battle against drug-related violence, Wayne Hicks, also known as “Weez,” has been sentenced to 17 years in prison. Hicks, a notorious figure in Rockland County, New York, was found guilty of drug trafficking and violent crimes, including a brutal assault and robbery that occurred on February 28, 2021, in New City, New York.
Announcing the verdict, Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, commended the diligent efforts of law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Clarkstown Police Department, the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office, and the Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force.
Hicks, 32, pleaded guilty on August 25, 2023, in White Plains federal court to multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery, Hobbs Act Robbery, Travel Act Assault, conspiracy to distribute marijuana, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The sentencing was delivered by U.S. District Judge Cathy Seibel.
According to the prosecution’s case, Hicks orchestrated two violent incidents to protect his drug enterprise. In November 2020, after one of his associates was robbed, Hicks arranged for a co-conspirator to shoot one of the robbers. Similarly, in February 2021, after another associate, Jordan Woodbine, was robbed, Hicks sought retribution by organizing an attack. The assault, carried out at Hicks’s direction, involved multiple assailants, including his brother Dwayne Hicks, Tnaiya Williams, Brian Thomas, and Woodbine. The victim was subjected to a vicious beating, robbery, and multiple stab wounds, with Hicks monitoring the attack remotely via video chat.
Commenting on the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams stated, “Wayne Hicks was a drug dealer who directed multiple violent attacks as retribution for drug robberies. The substantial sentence imposed by the court makes clear that the law has no tolerance for this kind of brazen violence.”
In addition to the prison term, Hicks was sentenced to five years of supervised release. The successful prosecution of Hicks and his associates underscores the commitment of law enforcement agencies to combatting drug-related violence in the region.
The case was handled by the Office’s White Plains Division, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Ly, Josiah Pertz, and Derek Wikstrom leading the prosecution. The collaborative efforts of various law enforcement entities, including the FBI, Clarkstown Police Department, and Rockland County District Attorney’s Office, were instrumental in bringing the perpetrators to justice.