By Ivan Pereira
An already incarcerated convict from Jamaica will be behind bars for a lot longer after he planned to hire a hitman to target a police officer who was going to testify at his trial, the Queens district attorney said.
Andrew Spencer, 25, of 115-36 159th St., was sentenced Dec. 9 to five years in prison in addition to an earlier 15-year sentence for a separate conviction on an attempted criminal possession of a weapon charge, according to DA Richard Brown.
Spencer and his accomplice, Kiyee Kye, 25, of 157-14 115th Road, admitted last month that they were plotting to kill a police officer who arrested Spencer three years ago during a violent standoff.
“Police officers represent society’s first line of defense in the enforcement of our laws. Individuals such as these defendants who would threaten the lives of police officers carrying out their sworn duty must be dealt with severely,” the DA said in a statement.
Kye, who was going to arm whoever took up the murder offer, received a sentence of 4 1/2 to nine years in prison from Queens Supreme Court Justice Darrell Gavrin, Brown said.
In April 2006, an off-duty police officer noticed a confrontation in front of his house between Spencer and another man and interceded. Spencer punched the officer in the face and pointed a loaded .40-caliber gun in the officer’s face, the DA said.
The undercover agent responded by pointing his own pistol at Spencer, identified himself as a police officer and ordered him to drop his gun, Brown said. After Spencer obeyed the officer’s orders, he took out money and said, “I’ll give you money. I can’t get locked up. I’m on parole.”
The whole incident took place in front of the officer’s daughter and niece, according to the DA.
Spencer was eventually arrested and indicted on several charges, including criminal possession of a weapon. While awaiting a jury trial at Rikers Island, he was caught in a recorded conversation seeking a hitman to kill the police officer.
Spencer offered $1,000 in cash, a Lexus and a Jeep to anyone who took up the offer and Kye would supply the hitman with a weapon, Brown said. An undercover agent went to Kye’s home and was given a gun and a bulletproof vest.
The duo gave the undercover officer full instructions, including the identity and address of the officer who arrested Spencer and the exact manner in which the hit was to take place, Brown said.
A week later, police raided Kye’s home, seized the loaded weapons and arrested him for taking part in the scheme.
Spencer was eventually convicted Nov. 2, 2007, and sentenced to 15 years in prison for his original criminal possession of a weapon charge, Brown said.
Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 146.
