By Naeisha Rose
A South Jamaica woman was sentenced to prison earlier this month for plotting the assassination of three witnesses in her lover’s armed robbery trial, according to the Queens district attorney’s office.
“In an attempt to help her boyfriend avoid punishment by intimidating or eliminating potential witnesses against him, this defendant risked her own freedom and it was a gamble that did not pay off,” said DA Richard Brown.
According to the criminal complaint filed by Brown’s office, Latisha Larrymore was accused of working with her Rikers Island boyfriend, Edward Leasure, and his father, Eddie Marcus, in conspiring to murder witnesses from around April 29, 2016 to May 12, 2016.
In 2016, on April 29 or 30, Marcus approached an unnamed man, who was familiar with Leasure’s case, to recruit him to kill witnesses set to testify against his son in exchange for money, according to a criminal complaint. The unnamed man, whose identity is being protected by the DA’s office, said that on the corner of 103rd Road and 171st Street in Jamaica, Marcus showed him his son’s court papers, exchanged numbers with him and handed him a list with the names of the witnesses and their addresses.
Days later on May 4, the unnamed man met Marcus at the same spot in Jamaica at 2:15 p.m. and was told that the payment for the murders would be arranged by Larrymore, according to the complaint.
The unnamed man said Marcus later introduced him to Larrymore May 5, at 111-19 146th St. in South Jamaica, according to the complaint. Leasure’s father told the unnamed man in that meeting that he must carry out the murders during the week and kill the witnesses when they would be home.
The unidentified man said Larrymore admitted she chose him as a hitman after Leasure told her he was worried about the witnesses in his son’s trial, so he had his father call her to reach out to people in jail she knew who might be able to recommend a third party to commit the murders.
The complaint said Larrymore and the unidentified individual met again at 146th Street in South Jamaica to discuss the timing of the payment in further detail. The nameless man said Leasure’s girlfriend was going to receive the money from a friend, and that she knew someone who could sell him a gun and a silencer.
Later that day, as the anonymous individual listened to a phone call with Larrymore and her friend, who was to procure $4,000 for the assassination, police were listening in on the conversation, according to the complaint.
During the conversation, police heard Larrymore’s friend reject the financial request, at which point the defendant offered the unidentified male another form of collateral.
Both Larrymore and Marcus were arrested on charges of conspiracy to murder on May 23, 2016, while Leasure was also charged with conspiracy to murder, according to the NYPD.
“Witness protection is a top priority for law enforcement and when we learn of plans like the one the defendant participated in, we do everything in our power to stop them,” said Brown. “Our success here demonstrates that law enforcement is capable of thwarting criminal plots and that those who attempt such conduct will face strong laws and tough penalties.”
Leasure pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary and second-degree conspiracy to commit murder on Aug. 22, 2016. He was sentenced 12 to 24 years in prison.
Marcus entered a guilty plea to second-degree conspiracy in January 2018 and was sentenced to three to nine years in prison on February 14.
Larrymore pleaded guilty to second-degree conspiracy in January 2018 as well, but will face a longer sentence of five to 15 years in prison.
“The defendant, as a result of her actions, is going to prison for a long time,” said Brown.
Reach reporter Naeisha Rose by e-mail at nrose
