Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Leon Wilson, a former correctional officer at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn ("MDC-Brooklyn"), was sentenced by United States District Judge Pamela K. Chen to 200 months in prison for willfully depriving an individual of his constitutional rights and using a firearm during a crime of violence. Wilson was convicted at trial in October 2025 on both counts of the indictment.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Ryan Geach, Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Region, United States Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG), and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentence.

"Leon Wilson used the authority entrusted to him as a federal correctional officer not to protect the public, but to engage in a dangerous and unjustified pursuit that culminated in gunfire on the streets of Brooklyn," stated United States Attorney Nocella. "This sentence demonstrates our Office's unwavering commitment to protecting constitutional rights and prosecuting those who abuse the power of their badges."

Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the New York City Police Department (NYPD) for its work in this case.

"We rely on Correctional Officers to do their work with honesty and integrity. Unfortunately, Wilson chose to exploit his authority," stated DOJ OIG Special Agent in Charge Geach. "The DOJ OIG will continue working with its law enforcement partners to bring to justice anyone who violates their oath and engages in this type of conduct."

"Leon Wilson's flagrant abuse of authority injured a civilian and gravely endangered the lives of countless other New Yorkers. The FBI New York's Civil Rights Task Force is dedicated to holding accountable public servants who use their badge as a shield to hide behind while engaging in violent criminal activity," stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.

Wilson was on duty at MDC-Brooklyn on September 4, 2023, when he chased a civilian car (the BMW) out of the facility's staff parking lot and off MDC-Brooklyn property. Wilson had no authority to pursue the BMW past MDC-Brooklyn's property line, but he did so anyway and ultimately chased the car to the edge of the Brooklyn Bridge, approximately 3.5 miles from the facility. During the chase, Wilson exceeded the speed limit, passed other vehicles, and ran red lights. Approximately two minutes after the chase began-and nearly a mile from MDC-Brooklyn-Wilson fired several gunshots at the BMW, one of which penetrated the rear of the vehicle and struck the backseat passenger in the chest and lungs. Wilson continued to chase the BMW for several minutes after firing his weapon. He never reported the on-duty shooting to the NYPD, MDC-Brooklyn or Bureau of Prisons personnel.

The government's case is being handled by the Office's Public Integrity and Human Trafficking and Civil Rights Sections. Assistant United States Attorneys Erin Reid, Eric Silverberg, and Raffaela Belizaire are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Daniel Arakawa and Melissa Bennett.

The Defendant:

LEON WILSON
Age: 51
Bronx, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-465 (PKC)